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JACKS OF ALL TRADES 












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(See page 27.) 



JACKS OF ALL TRADES 

AND WHAT THEY DID 

A STORY 


BY 

KATHARINE NEWBOLD BIRDSALL 


WITH ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLORS BY 
WALTER RUSSELL 
AND TEXT DRAWINGS BY 
E. S. TRUMAN 



NEW YORK 

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 
1902 


THE LIBRARY OF 
CONOR ESS. 
T'WO COWE8 Reosived 

SEP. 12 1902 


CoPVWOHT OtTWf 

cu^. Li 
CLAS8 CLxXa No. 
/f- <? / ■] 

CORY B. 


Copyright, 1902 

By D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 


Published September, 1902 


TO 

TWO 

LITTLE 

KATHARINES. 



CONTENTS 


CHAPTER PAGE 

I. — Introduced by the neighbors . . , 1 

II.— What they did 10 

III. — The first customer 21 

IV. — Which tells of some changes . . 32 

V.— Topsy 45 

VI.— Bargains and work 57 

VII.— The March Hares 66 

VIII.— An accident 76 

IX.— “Ketch a nigger” 88 

X.— A DISAPPEARANCE 99 

XI.— Dark hours 109 

XII.— Ben uses his wits 118 

XIII. — A DEPARTURE AND A TELEGRAM . . . 128 

XIV. — Two SURPRISES 138 

XV.— A SECRET 151 

XVI. — Jack’s chance 163 

XVII.— An adventure 173 

XVIII.— The wedding 187 

XIX.— A CONFESSION 202 

XX.— A RECOVERY AND A DISCOVERY . . . 215 

XXI. — Some detective work and — good-by . 228 

vii 









LIST OF FULL-PAGE ILLUSTKATIONS 


FACING 

PAGE 

“ Say, wouldn't you rather come out ? ” Frontispiece 


They talked about wonderful things .... 52 

“Run, Jack, run!” cried Paul 83 

Topsy had been back in the “Nest” for a day . 151 

“ Come on, uncle 1 ” he called tauntingly . . . 181 

Then Cousin Helen told the story .... 221 

ix 





JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


CHAPTER I 

INTRODUCED BY THE NEIGHBORS 

D r. SEBASTIAN McKINNEY was 
astounded when the minister told 
him that the Drurys had lost all 
their money. He said afterward that he 
never would have believed it if any one 
other than the minister had told him, for 
the Drurys had been for years the wealth- 
iest people in Cicero ; which, however, 
was not saying so very much, for the ma- 
jority of Cicerites could very easily have 
spent more without being in uncomfort- 
able luxury. The Drurys had always had 
everything they wanted — from Mr. Drury 
down to baby Polly ; but Mr. Drury had 
died six months before we become ac- 
quainted with the family, and since that 
time things had been at sixes and sevens 


2 


JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


in the Drury household. The money had 
not been securely invested, and now, as 
the minister was telling the doctor, there 
was little, if any, left. 

And what they will do is more than 
I know,’' finished the Kev. Mr. Manning. 

Haven’t they any relatives who can 
help them?” asked the doctor. ‘^Mrs. 

Drury is so delicate she 
ought not to be worried 
about anything. Poor 
woman, she has more 
than enough to attend 
to with the five children 
on her hands ! ” 

That boy Jack 
is a bright lad,” said 
the minister slowly, 
and it must be a blow 
to him to give up thinking about college. 
Why, doctor, he’s been looking forward 
for years to entering Harvard next year, 
and he has studied for it faithfully. Only 
just fifteen, too, and bright as a steel trap. 
You can depend upon it he will find a 
way of helping to provide for the family. 



INTEODUCED BY THE NEIGHBOKS 3 


You know I have been teaching Jack 
Latin and mathematics, and IVe grown 
to admire him greatly. — No, thank you, 
nothing more for me.^^ And Mr. Manning 
folded his napkin carefully and leaned 
back in his chair. 

He and Dr. McKinney were the great- 
est of cronies, and regularly each Friday 
night they dined together, first at the 
parsonage and then at the doctor’s little 
vine-covered cottage. They had dined 
together in this way for five years, never 
missing a single Friday night, though the 
doctor was apt to be called away some- 
times in the middle of the meal. He was 
the best - natured old bachelor in the 
world, and he had the tenderest of hearts ; 
so when he was called to leave his good 
dinner he went with only a regretful 
sigh. 

Well, they’re all nice children, there’s 
no doubt of that,” assented the doctor, 
though at times they are pretty lively. 
I don’t know what trick that rascal Ben 
hasn’t played on me in the last year. 
And Jack was no bad hand at a trick a 


4 


JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


year ago, either. What do you suppose 
his last one was ? I was mad as a hor- 
net.’^ The doctor laughed and his eyes 
twinkled merrily. 

“That’s the trouble with you, doctor 
— you’re angry one minute and the next 
minute you’re twice as good-natured as 
you were in the first place ; and a boy 
with Jack’s wit discovered that soon 
enough. I’ll warrant. If you were only 
severe once it would stop the boys’ tricks, 
though I think Jack doesn’t take as much 
interest in them as he did.” 

“ No,” laughed the doctor. “ His last 
was nearly a year ago, and I’ve never 
mentioned it to a soul. It was one night 
in January. I had finished my dinner 
and was very busy writing my annual re- 
port, which had to be sent in the next 
day, when in came old Joshua Lane to 
have his knee bandaged. Then came an 
old woman, and then the carpenter to 
have his splintered arm examined; and 
when I was in the midst of all this, Hester 
came to tell me that a little girl was cry- 
ing at the door and wanted to see me. 


INTRODUCED BY THE NEIGHBORS 5 


She was a dirty little minx, and her grimy 
cheeks were streaked where the tears 
had run down. She said between her 
sobs that her old grandmother was very 
sick and didn’t want to die without a 
doctor, and would I please come at 
once. She was a stranger to me, but I 
told her to wait for five minutes and I 
would go wfith her. So I finished with 
the patients, and put my report away 
only half written. 

It was a very dark night, and from 
what I could gather from her story, she 
had walked miles for me. So Nebuchad- 
nezzar was harnessed, and in a few min- 
utes the girl — who said her name was 
Sally Dodd — and I were driving rapidly 
toward Willow Creek. We had driven 
about an hour, turning as she directed, 
and were far out in the country when I 
began to think she had lost the way. But 
she declared she hadn’t, and I swallowed 
my misgivings. About four miles farther 
on she began to whimper again, and 
finally sobbed in a heartrending way that 
she guessed she was lost — she never had 


6 


JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


ridden over the road before, and perhaps 
if she got out and walked she would re- 
member it. So against my better judg- 
ment I let her out. She went on ahead 
for a few minutes in the darkness, calling 
to me to follow, and then she said she 
had found it — there were cross-roads 
ahead and I must turn to the left.’’ 

The doctor paused to light his pipe, 
and Mr. Manning pulled up his custom- 
ary easy-chair to the window and set- 
tled himself for a couple of hours’ solid 
comfort. 

^^Did you get there in time to save 
the grandmother ? ” he asked sympathet- 
ically. 

^^Well,” answered the doctor, there 
were cross-roads sure enough, and I 
turned to the left as she had told me. 
But the poor little thing must have lost 
herself, for those were the last words she 
spoke. Nebuchadnezzar and I wandered 
up and down that country road, looking 
for Sally Dodd and calling to her, for two 
mortal hours, I should think, with never 
a sound to guide us. Then suddenly I 


INTRODUCED BY THE NEIGHBORS 7 


stumbled on something soft and warm in 
a corner by a stone wall 

Poor little soul ! interrupted the 
minister compassionately. ^‘I suppose 
she had fainted from exhaustion — prob- 
ably she had nothing to eat that day, 
with her grandmother so sick.^^ 

Probably not/^ continued Dr. McKin- 
ney dryly. But it didn’t 
happen to be the little 
girl — it was a bundle of 
old clothes. And I had 
the curiosity to light a 
match and look at them. 

There was a torn little 
dress, an old ragged 
shawl, and the remains of 
a straw hat— the very 
same the little girl had 
worn. I was puzzled for 
a few minutes, and then the truth flashed 
over me.” 

What ? ” asked the minister. 

^^Jack Drury!” said the doctor sol- 
emnly, while a smile broke on the min- 
ister’s face. ^^Yes,” he continued, slap- 



8 


JACKS OF ALL TEADES 


ping his knees heartily. ^^Jack Drury; 
and he had led me such a distance from 
home that I was completely twisted, and 
it was after twelve o’clock when I finally 
found myself. I didn’t want to j udge the 
boy without proof, so I had the curiosity 
to go over to the house early the next 
morning, and the first thing I saw was a 
pair of very muddy boots on the back 
porch, which I’ll wager had tramped miles 
the night before.” 

Mr. Manning laughed. Did the 
boy have any object in doing it?” he 
asked. 

Well,” said the doctor, laughing too. 
Master Jack and I had had a dispute 
a few days before. I had been foolish 
enough to say that for fifteen years 
Nebuchadnezzar and I had jogged about 
the country, and there was not a road 
within fifty miles that we wouldn’t know 
in the pitch-darkness even if we were 
blindfolded. Jack expressed his opinion 
that he could show me a place I could 
get lost in. The more positive he was 
the more I laughed ; and I was so posi- 


INTRODUCED BY THE NEIGHBORS 9 


tive I refused to let him show me. Hence 
my suspicions.’^ 

^‘I suppose you left a piece of your 
mind with him the next time you saw 
him,” suggested the minister. 

The doctor laughed again. “No — 

that would never 
have done,” he said; 

“but — I prefer girls. 

Give me Miss Ka- 
trine with her nim- 
ble fingers — or the 
little butter-ball of 
a Polly — girls for 
me always. Poor 
little things ! it will 
be hard for them, 
this money business. 

I wish I were a rich man and I’d adopt 
the two girls.” 

“It’s probably well for them that 
you’re not rich,” said Mr. Manning. 
“ Don’t worry about them, though ; tliey'll 
do something besides worry. I’ll warrant.” 



2 


CHAPTER II 


WHAT THEY DID 

T hey hardly did just what Mr. Man- 
ning would have expected, though. 
There was a family conclave held 
one morning in the great sunshiny sitting- 
room at the Rockery, as the old Drury 
homestead was called, and even toddling, 
golden-curled little Polly was admitted, 
and had her important say in family af- 
fairs. The comfortable cushion-covered 
couch was drawn to the sunshine in the 
bay window, and Mrs. Drury, in her pretty 
gray wrapper, was helped out by Katrine 
and Charlie. Mrs. Drury had been al- 
most an invalid for a couple of years, 
and when her husband died the shock 
had sent her to her bed. She was just 
getting a little stronger when the news 
came that all she had depended on for 
the support of her family was gone. She 
10 


WHAT THEY DID 


11 


was a brave little woman, though so help- 
less with a terrible spinal disease, and 
she made the best of the trouble and tried 
to be cheerful for the sake of her chil- 
dren ; and the children, for fear of worry- 
ing dear Middy, as Charlie had christened 
her when he was a baby, laughed and 
sang and played as if nothing had hap- 
pened to mar their pleasure. Jack, Ka- 
trine, and Ben were old enough to realize 
what it meant to lose all one’s money, 
but, of course, Charlie, who was only 
seven, and three -year -old Polly, didn’t 
understand much about it, except that 
they found their dear mother crying once 
in awhile, and noticed that when she was 
in her own room the spirits of the others 
drooped. 

^^We might as well begin at once. 
Middy,” said Jack, and get things set- 
tled ; mightn’t we ? ” 

^^Yes, dear,” replied Mrs. Drury, with 
one of her brave bright smiles. ^^We 
might as well face the truth right away 
and see what can be done. You are 
the man of the family now, and you 


12 


JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


have a precious charge to look after the 
others/^ 

‘^You forget me, Middy,^^ said Ben, 
leaving the stool on which he had been 
sitting, throwing his head 



back and putting his hands 

in his pockets. “ / am a 
man, too.” 


Middy smiled. “ You 

III 1 

1 will be very soon, my son. 
^ But you will have to 


1 become more thoughtful 
and careful before that 
time.” 


a man, too,^^ said 
Charlie, looking up from 
the rug where 
he and Polly 
were playing. 
‘'He isn’t. 
Middy — he’s 
‘ laughing Benny,’ and men don’t laugh.” 

“You’re a kid!” retorted Ben, “and 
you ” 

“Never mind,” cried Katrine, “that 
isn’t what we want to talk about.” 



WHAT THEY DID 


13 


Me’s man/^ declared Polly, rubbing 
her big brown eyes thoughtfully. Bid 
man.^^ 

“You’re a sweetheart/’ said Katrine. 
“ That’s what you are.” 

“ ’Es ; me tweetheart,” 
assented Polly sweetly. 

“You are all brave 
children/’ said Mrs. Drury. 

“And we need to be brave, 
because it is a serious 
thing to try to live with- 
out money, especially when there are so 
many mouths to feed and so many feet 
to be shod. Your poor old mother isn’t 
good for much, or she would go to work 
and earn enough to support you.” Ka- 
trine, who was sitting on the floor by the 
couch, flung her arms about her mother’s 
neck, and Jack squeezed her hand afiec- 
tionately. 

“Don’t say that. Middy,” said Jack. 
“What could we do without you? You 
mustn’t even think of such a thing. I’ll 
find something to do, and work it with all 
my might.” 



14 


JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


You are the queen bee,” said Katrine, 
^^and we will be your subjects — the busy 
bees.” 

Buzz-zz-zzzz,” remarked Polly. 

And queen bees don’t w^ork a bit,” 
cried Ben. So you needn’t feel a bit 
badly about it.” 

Bad ! ” corrected Jack. If I could 
go to the city,” he continued, turning 
toward his mother, “I’m sure I’d find 
something to do that w^ould bring in 
some money. It w^ould be easy enough, 
Middy. Will you let me go ? ” 

“ I think not, dear,” said his mother 
gently. “ It sounds very easy when you 
talk about it, but it is not as attractive as 
it looks. A boy of your age does not get 
more than three dollars a week at the 
most, and city office work would be very 
irksome to a country boy like you. Still, 
I know you wouldn’t mind that when 
working for our sakes. But think, dear, 
for a moment ; you would have to board 
if you went to the city, and even with- 
out any new clothes your poor little three 
dollars would be eaten long before the 


WHAT THEY DID 


15 


end of the week. Three dollars will go 
much farther in the country than in the 
city. So I think you would better look 
for your fortune at home, dear.^^ 

There doesn’t seem to be much to 
do at home/’ said Jack, except to run 
errands for people who would much 
rather do them themselves.” 

^‘We might start in some kind of 
business,” suggested Katrine. 

Let’s have a candy shop,” cried Ben, 
at which Charlie pricked up his ears, and 
Polly cried, Me too.” 

^^We might have a bakery,” agreed 
Katrine thoughtfully, ^^and make some 
candy, too.” 

Yes,” said Jack dryly. ^^I’d make a 
fine cook, wouldn’t I ? I say, let’s have 
a carpenter shop — I am handy with tools, 
and Ben is too.” 

Fd make a fine carpenter,” retorted 
Katrine. Let’s be carpenters, by all 
means.” 

Let’s be a postman,” cried Charlie. 

Just hear me whistle,” and he blew such 
a deafening blast on his sailor’s whistle 


16 


JACKS OF ALL TEADES 


that Middy clapped her hands over her 
ears, and Jack, catching him up, vowed 


he should go out of 
the room if he made 
another sound. 



Me be a mi’k- 
man,’^ declared Polly, 
when peace was re- 
stored, plainly show- 
ing where her affec- 
tions were placed. 


When they had fin- 


ished laughing at Polly’s proposal. Jack 
suggested that they might keep a gen- 
eral shop where anything could be done 
that was needed. ^AVe can be sort of 
handy-men,” he said, “ and always ready 
to do whatever any one wants done. 
Then Katrine can be a baker if she wants 
to, Charlie can be postman, Ben and I 
can be carpenters, and Polly can be milk- 
man.” 

The others laughed and clapped 
their hands delightedly, and Mrs. Drury 
smiled. 

You might be able to do something 


WHAT THEY DID 


17 


of the sort/^ she said thoughtfully. I’m 
sure there are lots of people who Avant 
odd things done. I can remember times 
long ago when I would have been very 
glad to find some one to call upon to put 
on rebellious door-knobs, or run an errand, 
or do my baking when I was worn out. 
Yes, I think that you will be able to 
make a success of the plan if you try. 
You must make it a point to do every- 
thing you undertake in the very best 
manner, and be reasonable in your 
charges, though. You must also let peo- 
ple knoAV that you 
want Avork. Every 
one will be surprised, 
no doubt, but we are 
all brave, and we do 
not care Avhat others 
think or say as long 
as we are doing 
right. This may 
be the silver lining 
to our cloud — who 
knows ? ” And Middy smiled brightly. 

I can print a lot of cards,” cried Ben. 



18 


JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


‘‘ And I will give ^em to people ! 
shouted Charlie. ^^0 Middy, do, do let 
us. Itdl be lots of fun.’^ Charlie was 
jumping up and down in his excite- 
ment. 

^^You can’t do anything if you make 
so much noise,” said Jack. ^^You must 
remember that Middy has a headache. 
Yes, you can be postman and help Ben 
give out the cards when we have them 
printed — I’ll show you w^hat to put on 
them, Ben.” 

Charlie opened his mouth to shriek 
with delight, but his big brother promptly 
clapped a hand over it, deposited him in 
the hall, and closed the door. 

Then the family set to work to com- 
pose a suitable business notice. Jack sub- 
mitted this as his first attempt : 

^^The Drurys wish to announce that 
they will do work of every kind at rea- 
sonable rates. Errands executed prompt- 
ly. The Rockery, Cicero.” 

^^That will never do,” said Mrs. Drury. 

In the first place, the Rockery is too far 
from the center of the town for people to 


WHAT THEY DID 


19 


come out here to get some one to run an 
errand. And then — she hesitated a little, 
as if it were something disagreeable she 
had to say — and then, you know, if we 
can, we must rent the Rockery and live 
in a smaller house, where the expense will 
not be as great.^^ 

Three faces were clouded for an in- 
stant. The children dearly loved their 
beautiful home, and it would be hard, in- 
deed, to give it up. Katrine was the first 
to swallow her feelings. 

We won’t have to go until we find 
some one to take it,’^ she said brightly. 

A smaller house will be much less trou- 
ble to manage, too ; won’t it. Middy ? 

Jack didn’t speak for a few minutes. 
The possibility of having to leave the 
Rockery had never occurred to him, and 
it was anything but a pleasant thought. 
There seemed to be nothing to say 
about that, so he only said that they 
would have to get an office in the 
center of the town, and that one of 
them must be there all the time to take 
orders. 


20 


JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


The notice Katrine composed was the 
best of all, and finally, with a few amend- 
ments, it was unanimously adopted : 


c k and Compai^ of All Traces. 

Evci^ /dn J e|* worK 

■tf)e jrvia.))e.st oaderi u/i‘)l rec/^vC^ 
C,A.r^i 1. 1 A'tt’e.rvt /on. 


CHAPTER III 


THE FIRST CUSTOMER 

B en proved himself such an efficient 
printer that the cards he and Charlie 
left at every door for miles around 
were read with interest and amusement. 
Very few of the townspeople had heard 
of the Drurys^ unfortunate loss, and when 
they read the notice they laughed. 

^^What under the sun won’t those 
Drurys do next ! ” they exclaimed. I 
wonder if any one will patronize them ! ” 
Jack made an arrangement with the 
druggist by which his /^Company” was 
allowed to have desk room in a corner of 
the drug-store in return for a certain 
number of errands to be done every week. 
He was elected president of the Company 
by a unanimous vote when the scheme 
was first mentioned; Katrine was the 
treasurer because she could always make 

21 


22 


JACKS OF ALL TEADES 


a column of figures foot up the same 
amount three times out of five; and 
laughing Ben was the secretary. Per- 
haps he was rather young for a secretary, 
but it was necessary to give him some 
influential position to save his feelings, 
and as things turned out he proved a 
great acquisition. There was only one 
drawback to the position, and that w^as 
the promise Jack had extorted from him 
that he would not send any letter out 
until he had first looked in the dictionary 
for the correct spelling of every word. 
And it is due to Ben to say that he kept 
his promise quite well, considering what 
a bad memory he had. Charlie was 
promised as many letters to deliver as he 
wanted — more, in fact. But he cheer- 
fully agreed to be postman until he wore 
his legs off.’^ He didn’t have very much 
work for the first week, except when the 
telephone refused to perform its duty, 
for Jack and Ben had rigged up a beauti- 
ful telephone between the office and the 
house. It refused to act quite as well as 
could have been wished, for the distance 


THE FIRST CUSTOMER 


23 


was longer than was suited to the ma- 
terials they had in hand. And Charlie 
was so excited, and so worried for fear a 
possible letter might escape him, that he 
made many journeys to and fro. Finally 
Jack had to order him to stay at home, 
for a breathless small boy rushing in 
every half-hour to inquire for business 
that didn’t come rather disturbed the 
president’s equanimity, and he was afraid 
that ‘ Mr. Pills 
might repent of 
his bargain, and 
refuse to allow 
him desk room 
longer. 

Jack spent 
most of his time 
at his desk — one 
that he had 
made himself — 
and studied near- 
ly all day. The desk was a very credit- 
able piece of work; Jack had selected 
oak for the wood, and it was planed and 
polished till the beautiful marks of the 



24 


JACKS OF ALL TEADES 


grain were brought out as in a most ex- 
pensive piece of store’' furniture. The 
pieces were cleverly and smoothly put 
together, and everything was finished in 
the best style. The work on the desk 
had brought him a prize in the manual- 
training department at school, and he 
hated to put it to so common a use; it 
brought him his first customer, how- 
ever. 

It was the morning of the third day 
he had spent at the ofiice, when he no- 
ticed a tall, fine-looking man enter the 
store, and, after buying some drugs, start 
for the door. As he passed Jack’s desk 
he stopped and looked at it closely ; then 
he turned to the druggist. 

I wish we had a cabinet-maker near 
here who could polish like that,” he said. 

I have a beautiful old table that needs 
attention, but I wouldn’t trust Jim Barnes 
with it.” 

Perhaps ” commenced Mr. Pills, 

looking toward the corner; but before 
he had a chance to say another word 
Jack had bounded from his seat, scatter- 


THE FIEST CUSTOMER 


25 


ing liis books and papers, and was hand- 
ing a card to the stranger. 

^^At your service, sir,” he said. 
made that desk.” 

You ! ” was the amazed reply. 

Jack had such a straightforward, 
honest way of talking that it didn’t take 
Mr. Waldron long to place confidence in 
him, and he engaged the services of the 
new Company.” And as Jack volun- 
teered to go at once, he summoned Ka- 
trine from the house by telephone, much 
to Mr. Waldron’s amusement, and was 
ready to start when he had been home 
to get his tools. Mr. Waldron was going 
right to his home, and Jack was to meet 
him and drive out, a distance of about 
nine miles. He was surprised to find that 
Mr. Waldron had known his father when 
they were boys, and that they had gone 
through college together. 

“1 have a son and a daughter near 
your age,” said Mr. Waldron, ‘^but I am 
afraid they are not as talented as you 
are. Paul would make a sad botch of 
polishing my antique table.” 

3 


26 


JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


Perhaps his talents run in a different 
direction/^ suggested Jack politely, won- 
dering if he would see Paul W aldron and 
his sister. 

The Waldron home was a large, fasci- 
nating house about a hundred and fifty 
years old, and its furniture matched it. 
Jack was almost afraid to touch the 
beautiful old mahogany table. He waited 
in the dining-room until Mrs. Waldron 
was called, and when she came in he rose 
politely. 

said Mrs. Waldron, I was 
looking for the man to polish the table. 
Are you waiting to see Paul ? 

I am the man to polish the table,’^ 
said Jack, smiling. 

There must be a mistake,^^ said Mrs. 
Waldron perplexedly, looking at Jack; 
but just then her husband came in and 
explained that, although very youthful in 
appearance, Jack’s work was that of an 
artist. Mrs. Waldron still looked a little 
doubtful, but she did not say anything 
more ; so Jack went to work, slowly and 
carefully. A slight mistake on his part 


THE FIRST CUSTOMER 


21 


might ruin forever the handsome old piece 
of furniture, not to mention ruining his 
reputation. The Waldrons seemed to be 
pleased with his slowness, however, and 
came in frequently to see how he was 
progressing. 

At half-past twelve he was beginning 
to feel very hungry indeed, as the rat- 
tling of the dishes in the dining-room 
across the hall reminded him that he had 
not thought to bring his lunch. While he 
was thinking about it the library door 
opened; and Paul Waldron, a delicate- 
looking, dark-haired boy, came in carry- 
ing a small pitcher. 

Sally made me bring this in,^’ he said 
apologetically. “ I thought you’d rather 
come out in the dining-room to lunch, 
but she said she was sure you’d rather 
have it here since you didn’t know any 
of us. Say, wouldn’t yon rather come 
out ? It’s the meeting of the ^ March 
Hares.’ ” 

What a7^e the March Hares ? ” asked 
Jack. ''lam terribly hungry, but I never 
thought to bring my lunch.” 


28 


JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


A tray spread with the daintiest 
cloth and with eatables and goodies ga- 
lore appeared at that moment, carried by 
a laughing girl. 

^^Wait, Sally/’ called her brother. 
^^Say, Jack — your name’s Jack, isn’t it? 
— wouldn’t you rather come in with the 
March Hares? There are only eight of us 
in the club.” 

“ I didn’t expect to come to a party,” 
laughed Jack. I’m a day-laborer and 
I’m not fit to be seen. If you don’t mind, 
I’d rather stay here.” 

“ There ! Who knew the most, Mr. 
Knowitall?” laughed Sally. ^‘Set the 
milk pitcher down and get a glass — I 
didn’t have room for it on the tray.” 
She put the tray on a little side-table, and 
Jack fell to eating ravenously; every- 
thing was as good as it was dainty. Sally 
ran back to the dining-room, and when 
Paul brought the glass Jack asked what 
the March Hares ” were. 

Why it’s sort of hard to explain just 
what we are,” said Paul. ''We’re a club 
of four girls and four boys, and we started 


THE FIRST CUSTOMER 


29 


in to have a secret society just for fun; 
then we decided to be missionaries; and 
then we started a dancing - class ; and 
when we made up our minds to turn into 
a literary club, mother declared we were 
as mad as March hares — and so we de- 
cided to he ‘ March Hares/ 

Jack laughed till he felt like crying. 

And you do just whatever you want?^^ 
he asked. It must be fun to be a 
March Hare.’^ 

^‘It is,” declared Paul. ‘^You must 
come over some time — you live in Cicero, 
don’t you ? — and help us to be mad. I 
must go and finish my grub — good-by if 
I don’t see you again.” 

‘^Good-by,” called Jack. “Any time 
you want help in being mad just call upon 
Jack and Company of All Trades.” 

Paul disappeared, and Jack destroyed 
the rest of the lunch in a very short time; 
and then he finished his work in the most 
approved style. When Mr. and Mrs. Wal- 
dron came in about four o’clock, they 
were very much pleased with the result, 
and praised the workmanship highly. 


30 


JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


shall remember you, Mr. Jack, 
whenever we want any furniture attended 
to,^^ said Mr. Waldron pleasantly. Will 
you send in your bill ? 

Thank you,^’ said Jack. Furniture 
or anything else, please. Yes, sir, I will 
send you the bill. Good afternoon. 

As he started down the road on his 
long walk home, he caught sight of the 
March Hares playing some very noisy and 
exciting game, and he decided that they 
had quite abandoned being a literary 
club. He would have had quite a walk 
home had he not met Dr. McKinney. 

Lost, eh ? queried the doctor. 

^^No, sirree,^^ replied Jack pleasantly. 
‘‘1 always have known my way about 
this part of the country. I was just go- 
ing to strike across that field and cut 
through the woods for home when I saw 
you.” 

A short cut, eh ? Perhaps you’d save 
time by walking home, young man,” said 
the doctor dryly, flicking Nebuchadnez- 
zar with his whip. 

Jack looked at the doctor quickly, 


THE FIEST CUSTOMEK 


31 


but liis face showed no sign that he might 
be alluding to the midnight trick of a 
year ago. I’d like 
to ride with you if 
you have no objec- 
tion/’ said Jack. 

“I should think 
the woods would be 
more attractive in 
the day than at 
night/’ the doctor 
continued, as Jack 
jumped in ; the doc- 
tor then abruptly 
changed the subject, for he was afraid of 
treading on his own toes.” 

Ben was greatly pleased to have a 
bill to make out, and when it was at last 
mailed by Charlie it was a model of pen- 
manship, and read : 

Cicero, 190 

Mr. George Waldron, 

To Jack & Co. of All Trades, Dr. 

Scraping and polishing mahogany table 



$3 00. 


CHAPTER IV 


WHICH TELLS OF SOME CHANGES 

W HEN Jack reached home that 
afternoon he found his mother 
looking very sad, and there was a 
suspicion of tears about Katrine, who had 
been relieved at the office by Ben. He 
understood what it was at once when he 
caught sight of an open letter on the table 
and saw the heading. It was from a Mr. 
Hewing, a rich New Yorker, who had 
come to Cicero a couple of weeks before 
to look at the Rockery, which was adver- 
tised for sale. At the time he had not 
seemed very much pleased with the place, 
and, although Mrs. Drury knew it must 
be done, she was quite relieved when he 
had left without expressing himself as 
pleased enough to buy it. 

It was a beautiful place to live, espe- 
cially for children. The house was large, 

32 


WHICH TELLS OF SOME CHANGES 33 


with lots of nooks and crannies and corner 
cupboards, and little halls, where, if you 
were not very careful, you would fall up 
or down a couple of steps at every turn. 
It was built on a hill that had at one time 
been the center of the Drurys’ large prop- 
erty, but it did not have a smooth and 
rolling velvety lawn, as some people de- 
clared it ought to have. Instead, there 
were great boulders and scraggly rocks, 
and brambles and mosses and stones of 
every size and description. And grow- 
ing near the house in wild confusion were, 
in summer, flowers that would have de- 
lighted the hearts of our great-grand- 
mothers — a regular old fashioned flower- 
garden, minus the arrangement and per- 
fect order our great-grandmothers loved. 
Mr. Drury had never allowed his gar- 
dener to interfere with the growth of 
nature, except to rid the immediate yard 
of weeds. So, perhaps it was not very 
wonderful that Mr. and Mrs. Hewing 
had not expressed themselves as de- 
lighted with the place, for they were the 
most civilized kind of city people^ while 


34 


JACKS OF ALL TEADES 


the Drury homestead was a bit of un- 
trained nature. 

^^Well/^ said Jack cheerfully, picking 
up the letter and dropping his hat to a 
convenient resting - place on the floor, 
have they made us an offer. Middy ? 

You may read it,^^ replied his mother. 
I suppose we ought to be very thankful, 
instead of near tears.^^ 

Dear Madam : the letter began. 
Mrs. Hewing and I have decided that 
we like your house the best of any we 
have seen, but we do not wish to commit 
ourselves by buying too hastily. There- 
fore we propose that you rent it to us for 
a couple of years, with the privilege of 
buying it at the end of that time. Kindly 
let me hear whether this proposition meets 
your approval, and oblige. 

Yours very truly, 

George J. Hewing.” 

Jack whistled when he had finished 
reading it. 

What a little goose you are to cry, 
Katrine ! ” he said. I should call this a 


WHICH TELLS OF SOME CHANGES 35 


piece of very good news ; shouldn’t you, 
Middy ? ” 

People have been known to cry from 
joy,” retorted Katrine, a big tear falling in 
her lap. Oh, dear, I didn’t really think 
we’d have to give up the house ! I hoped 
somebody ’d leave us a fortune so we 
wouldn’t have to.” 

Don’t be silly,” said Jack. We can 
buy it back in a few years, when we make 
enough money. This house is too big for 
us, anyway.” 

You are right, dear,” said Mrs. Drury. 

The house is too large, and we ought to 
be thankful that we have found some one 
to take it, and the extra expense, off our 
hands. And then we can look forward to 
two years hence, for perhaps Mr. and Mrs. 
Hewing will find it undesirable to buy and 
we can come back again.” 

I do hope so ! ” cried Katrine. But 
there’s no danger of that. Middy. The 
longer a body lives here the longer she 
wants to stay.” 

Shall I accept Mr. Hewing’s offer, 
then ? ” asked Mrs. Drury. 


36 


JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


Ye-es/^ said Jack and Katrine dole- 
fully. added Jack, ^^do ask ^em 

a high rent.” 

‘AYe shall have to take what we can 
get,” said his mother ; and then she dic- 
tated a letter to Jack, and after it had 
been mailed, and the family had settled 
themselves around the supper table, they 
felt relieved by the thought that perhaps 
two years would see them in possession of 
the Rockery again. 

^‘The house next to Dr. McKinney’s 
will just suit us,” said Mrs. Drury, who, for 
the first time in weeks, was able to be at 
the supper table. ^^The doctor told me 
the other day that it was vacant. It 
will seem small to us after the Rockery, 
but ” 

‘Mt’s the dearest little house,” inter- 
rupted Katrine. ^^The Blacks used to 
live there — don’t you remember? And 
it is a fine place for an ofiice, isn’t it. 
Jack? Why — what’s the matter, Mam- 
my Rose ? ” 

Mammy Rose was the old cook, who 
had been with the Drurys for many years. 


WHICH TELLS OF SOME CHANGES 37 


She was as black as the ace of spades, and 
rejoiced in the name of Rose Pink. When 
they had lost their money Mrs. Drury 
had sent all the other 
servants away, but 
faithful old Mammy 
Rose had remained at 
reduced wages. When 
they had commenced 
to talk of moving, they 
had told Mammy noth- 
ing about it, for Mrs. 

Drury knew it would 
be impossible for them 
to keep her at any- 
thing like the wages 
she could command ; 
for Mammy was a famous cook, and many 
a housekeeper would be only too glad to 
have her. 

^^0 Mis’ Lucy, you-all ain’ gwine to 
leabe de Rock’y, is you?” she sobbed, 
rocking herself to and fro. ^‘Yo’ ain’ so 
po’ ’s all dat, is yo’ ? ” 

^‘Yes, Mammy,” said Mrs. Drury gen- 
tly. We are going to rent the Rockery, 




38 


JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


and will have to go to a smaller house in 
the village. And Mammy, dear old Mam- 
you will have to leave us.^^ Mrs. 
Drury’s eyes were filled with tears, too, 
for Mammy Rose had been her nurse 
when she w^as a child in the old Virginia 
home. 

Mammy pulled her apron from her 
head, and looked at her mistress in a 
frightened way. 

^^Sho, Mis’ Lucy chile, is yo’ gone 
crazy? Yo’ cyan’t lib widout Mammy 
Rose. No, honey. Mammy’s gwine too.” 

^‘But, Mammy dear,” explained Mrs. 
Drury, we are so very poor now that 
we can not pay you what you are worth 
— you must go somewhere else.” 

What’s I care for money ! ” declared 
Mammy indignantly. I’se neber gwine 
to leabe Mis’ Lucy — she gwine die f’om 
lonesomeliness.” Mammy Rose left the 
chair into which she had cast herself at 
first, and threw herself on the floor be- 
side her mistress, burying her face in Mrs. 
Drury’s lap ; and little Polly slipped from 
her high chair and threw her arms about 


WHICH TELLS OF SOME CHANGES 39 


Mammy’s neck, mingling her tears with 
the old nurse’s. 

Mammy Rose, Mammy Rose ! ” cried 
Katrine. You mustn’t do that — you will 
make Middy ill again.” But Mammy’s 
grief was beyond control, and she sobbed 
as if her heart would break, while Polly 
burst into loud wails, and rained kisses 
on Mammy’s dusky cheeks. 

“ Dear Mammy,” said Mrs. Drury 
gently, ^Olsten for a moment. We feel 
just as badly as you do about it, and it 
will be very hard to get along without 
you. But you must leave us. Who is 
going to support Uncle J ake and crippled 
George? Lily can’t do it because she 
has a family of her own ; and what would 
they do if you did not send them money 
every month ? ” 

^^Dunno, Mis’ Lucy, dunno,” sobbed 
Mammy Rose. “ Dey has Topsy, but she 
ain’ had no trainin’ in serbice an’ she cyan’ 
earn much. But dey’d be better off wid 
Mammy livin’ nor dead, an’ Mammy jes’ 
gwine die ef she leabe yo’.” 

^^Oh no. Mammy,” said Mrs. Drury. 


40 


JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


There are lots of very nice people who 
want you, and perhaps you could get a 
place near here where you could see us 
often. If we can get the little house 
next to the doctor’s there will not be so 
very much work, and Katrine has grown 
to be quite a cook.” 

“ Dat she has,” assented Mammy Rose 
heartily, but still crying. She ain’ done 
been brung up by Mammy Rose fo’ 
nothin’.” 

“ And Cousin Helen Cubberly is coming 
to stay with us for a while,” added Mrs. 
Drury. 

Cousin Helen ! ” exclaimed the chil- 
dren in a breath. 

Yes,” said their mother, “ I wanted 
to have a delightful surprise for you, but 
now the cat is out of the bag.” 

De good Lord be praised ! ” cried 
Mammy Rose. Ef Mis’ Helen’s cornin’ 
yo’ll be in good hands ef Mammy leabes 
yo’. Dere’s nobody Mammy sooner trust 
yo’ wif dan Mis’ Helen.” She wiped her 
eyes slowly and solemnly on her apron, 
disengaged Polly’s arms from her neck 


WHICH TELLS OF SOME CHANGES 41 


and hugged her close with one hand, 
while with the other she straightened her 
turban. I reck’n yo’s right, Mis^ Lucy. 
Who^s gwine gib ole Unc’ Jake an’ dat 
po’ li’F Gawdgy Washington Lafayette 
dey wittles ef Mammy Rose doan’ earn 
no money ? ” 

You can come back. Mammy, when 
we make our fortune,” said Ben, eying 
the waffle plate sadly. ‘^Say, Katrine, 
do you know how to make waffles?” 
But Katrine was too busy buttering one 
for Charlie to answer the question. 

Mammy Rose put Polly back in her 
high chair and resumed waiting on the 
table, but with a very sad face, and 
shaking her head solemnly every little 
while. 

“ Has Cousin Helen really said she will 
come to us ? ” said Katrine. 

^^Yes,” nodded Mrs. Drury. “I had 
a letter asking if she could not come and 
make us a long visit wherever w^e were. 
She says she wants to take care of me 
and nurse me back to my own good 
health.” 

4 


42 


JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


As if /couldn’t take care of you ! ” 
cried Katrine jealously. 

But you will be busy with the house- 
keeping and other things, dear. I am 
afraid you and Jack will have to leave 
school for the present, but Ben can go, 
and Charlie must start this year, too.” 

“ But I’m secretary of the Company,” 
objected Ben, ^^and I’ve got to work.” 

^^You can devote your afternoons to 
that, after you have finished your les- 
sons,” said Mrs. Drury firmly. “ It is too 
bad that Jack and Katrine have to stay 
away, but if there is anything to be made 
from ^Jack and Company’ it must have 
attention.” 

It will be fun, indeed it will,” cried 
Katrine. ^AYe don’t mind it at all, do 
we. Jack? We can study by ourselves.” 

Jack couldn’t answer No truthfully, 
so he chose to say nothing. 

I know it will be hard for us all,” 
said Mrs. Drury, lovingly patting Jack’s 
hand, “but after we are used to it we 
will not find it so irksome. We must all 
help ourselves and each other, and as 


WHICH TELLS OF SOME CHANGES 43 


Katrine is to be the housekeeper we must 
spare her as much as possible, for she 
will have the hardest w^ork of all, till I 
get a little stronger/^ 

Mammy Rose’s face, which had been 
long and wobegone all through supper, 
brightened up as a sudden thought seemed 
to come to her, and she stopped behind 
Charlie’s chair, a plate of hot waffles in 
one hand and a jar of honey in the other, 
to exclaim : 

Here, Mis’ Lucy, I ’dare to goodness 
I’s jes’ foun’ a plan. Yo’ ole Mammy’ll 
feel mo’ easy ’bout yo’ now — dat li’l’ pick- 
aninny ob a Topsy mus’ come up hyar an’ 
tak’ care ob yo’. Now, doan’ say No, Mis’ 
Lucy,” as Mrs. Drury shook her head. 

Topsy am a caperable chile an’ she 
knows some t’ings jes’ ’s well ’s ole 
Mammy. But she ain’ nebber bin inter 
serbice, an’ ef yo’ll jes’ take her, Mis’ 
Lucy, she’ll fin’ out how to do eberyt’ing 
jes’ like she’d bin in serbice in de fust 
famblies all her life.” 

But,” said Mrs. Drury, who remem- 
bered the last time she had seen Topsy 


44 


JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


that a more mischievous little darky 
never lived, I am afraid she would be 
more care than helj) ; and it would be 
one more mouth to feed/’ 

“ Oh, Mis’ Lucy, doan’ say No !” cried 
Mammy, putting the dishes down and 
clasping her hands supplicatingly. “ Topsy 
am free years older now dan w’en yo’ 
laid eyes on her, an’ I reck’n she c’n be- 
yave herself. An’ her Mammy’ll be right 
near, an’ Mis’ Lucy, honey, she kin wash 
dishes an’ she kin scrub an’ she’s a horned 
cook. An’ Mis’ Lucy, ef yo’ll let Mammy 
pay yo’ fo’ teachin’ Topsy how de bes’ 

famblies does ” 

Hush, Mammy,” said Mrs. Drury, as 
the old darky was becoming almost hys- 
terical again. If Topsy can work as you 
say, it may be well to have her — what do 
you think, Katrine ? Shall we try her ? ” 
Oh yes, do ! ” cried Katrine, jumping 
up and helping sleepy little Polly from 
her chair and starting off with her to bed. 

And so Mammy got Ben to write for 
Topsy that very night, enclosing in the 
letter money for her trip north. 


CHAPTER V 


TOPSY 

'‘TJTOW do you think that looks, 
|~| Topsy ? asked Katrine. She was 
hanging some simple white cur- 
tains at the windows in the little sitting- 
room of their new home. Topsy had 
been in Cicero for nearly a w^eek, and w^as 
already devoted to her new mistress and 
the family ; in fact, she had been devoted 
to them all her life, because Mammy Rose 
had been, and anything that Mammy 
Rose said or did had always been fol- 
low^ed in the Pink household. 

The week had been a very busy one 
for the Drurys. First of all a telegram 
had come from Mr. Hewing saying that 
his family would like to move into the 
Rockery in a week, and so there had 
been much hurrying and scurrying to de- 
cide what was wanted and what was not 

45 


46 


JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


wanted in the little house, and everything 
that was not wanted was put carefully 
away in the big garret at the Rockery. 
The Hewings were moving into the Rock- 
ery that very day, and Middy was glad 
the children were so busy that they didn’t 
have time to think about leaving their 
home. Mammy Rose had not left them 
yet ; she was going to get them entirely 
settled before she withdrew her sheltering 
wings. Topsy was a paragon of virtue, 
perhaps because her mother was always 
on hand with a very wide-open eye for 
any shortcomings. The little darky was 
as nimble as a chipmunk and as quick 
as a weasel, and anything she touched 
seemed to be done in no time. Mrs. 
Drury was really much pleased with her, 
and told Mammy Rose she was very glad 
the girl had been sent for. 

You would have laughed to see Mam- 
my Rose in that little sardine-box of a 
kitchen ! When she was in it there was 
room for no more sardines — she could 
scarcely turn around, it was such a tight 
fit. But Topsy just fitted in to perfec- 


TOPSY 


47 


tion, and declared she ^^nebber in her 
bo’n days seed a bitching dat am jes’ 
made fo^ dis nigger — de cyarpenter c’dn’t 
V fitted it better ef he’d cut a patteren 
t’om me.” It was a cute little place, 
certainly, and Katrine and Topsy both 
beamed with joy every time they went in 
it. Besides the kitchen and a little hall, 
there was a sunny dining-room, and a 
bay-windowed sitting-room, as they chose 
to call it, because parlor was so formal 
and uncomfortable. And then there was 
a little room at the side of the house 
which opened on a tiny porch with steps 
leading to a side-path. This little room 
had immediately been claimed as an of- 
fice, and the boys were at work on a sign 
to be hung from the porch, visible from 
the road. 

Up-stairs, ^Irs. Drury had the largest 
and sunniest room, and Cousin Helen Cub- 
berly the little box of a room connecting. 
Katrine took care of baby Polly and slept 
with her, while the three boys camped 
together in the other room. Topsy’s 
corner was in the garret, partitioned ofiP 


48 


JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


from the trunk-room. So you see, they 
were as snug as a bug in a rug, without 
room for an extra person. 

Poor Mammy Rose felt sadly out of 
place in that tiny house, and after once 
trying to get into Topsy’s little room and 
bed, she gave up in despair, and the rest 
of the time she was there she slept on the 
sitting-room sofa, without saying anything 
to anybody about it. 

Cousin Helen had arrived the day be- 
fore, and it was the greatest treat in the 
world to have her near. She had the 
most restful kind of a face, and she was 
gentle and patient, and yet very jolly. 
Nothing seemed to worry her, nor did she 
ever fret, though she had certainly had a 
great deal of trouble in losing her mother 
and father and a very dear sister all in 
a year — not to mention nearly all her 
money. Cousin Helen was never sad, 
though she could be so sympathetic when 
sympathy was needed. ‘^You couldn’t 
call her an old maid,” Jack had said to 
Katrine, because she isn’t old at all; 
and you couldn’t call her a girl — exactly 


TOPSY 


49 


— because she understands just what a 
fellow feels, and girls never do. No, I 
don’t know what you could call her.” 

Call her a spinster,” a sweet voice 
had called, and there was Cousin Helen 
in the doorway ; she had overheard 
what he said. Jack had blushed a deep 
scarlet, but Cousin Helen didn’t seem to 
mind in the least; in fact, she told him 
she felt very much complimented. And 
baby Polly, who was clinging to Cousin 
Helen’s hand, had immediately taken the 
name up, and insisted upon calling her 
^‘Spinner.” And Spinner she was to 
every one after that. It was appropriate, 
too, for she was as busy as a spider spin- 
ning his web, and she spun happy smiles 
and sweet words and cheer wherever she 
went. 

But if we wander off in this way Ka- 
trine will have the house aU settled before 
we can give her any help. Topsy was so 
busily engaged in picking pins and tacks 
out of her mouth in order to answer Ka- 
trine’s question that Katrine, receiving no 
reply, stood at a little distance from the 


50 


JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


window, and eying the curtain critically, 
asked again : 

^^What do you think it looks like, 
Topsy ? 

Well, Mis’ Kat-trine, I doan’ know 
as I seed niiffin like hit afore — hit looks 
like lots o’ t’ings. Ef I finks ob cream 
an’ strawberries, an’ finks I sees Mis’ 
Fanny cuttin’ cake, an’ niggers singin’, 
w’y hit looks like hit was er festibal dress; 
an’ ef I closes one eye, so, an’ looks at hit 
wid de odder, hit seems like hit was Mon- 
day mornin’ an’ de soapsuds was all frothy 
waitin’ fo’ de clo’es ; an’ ef I shuts de od- 
der eye an’ opens dis one just er teenty 
bit, so, an’ open bofe quick, I feels like 
squealin’, fo’ dere’s a big w’ite cloud wid 
a beau’ful nangel a-sittin’ ” 

^^But I want to know if they hang 
right,” said practical Katrine, pulling the 
folds out. 

^^Dey looks jes’ simply splendigant. 
Mis’ Kat-trine,” declared Topsy. 

Do try to say Katrine,” said the lit- 
tle mistress. 

^^No use,” said Topsy sadly. Hit’s 


TOPSY 


51 


my tongue, Mis’ Kat-tr — Mis’ Kat. Mis’ 
Kat doan’ soim’ bery specterble, an’ ’tain’t 
jes’ right to call yo’ by de same name as 
a four-legged critter. How’ll Mis’ Trine 
do?” 

Katrine laughed. It sounds like 
^ tureen,’ Topsy, but I s’pose it will have 
to do if you can’t say the other. There ! 
That’s the very last thing to do in here, 
and Spinner will be pleased when she sees 
the room. Now, Topsy, you take Polly 
out for a walk, and I’m 
going up - stairs with 
Middy for a while.” 

So Topsy tied Pol- 
ly’s blue hood on and 
buttoned her coat, and, 
putting a clean white 
apron on herself, went 
out. They were a fasci- 
nating pair, the little rosy, roly-poly gold- 
en-haired baby, and the blackest of black 
little darkies, with teeth which tried to 
rival the whiteness of the spick-and-span 
apron and a wonderful bright turban, for 
Mammy was old-fashioned in her notions, 



52 


JACKS OF ALL TEADES 


and Topsy was brought up to think that 
a darky w^as not respectable who didn’t 
wear a turban. 

They talked about wonderful things — 
Topsy did most of the talking, rather. 
She told the most wonderful tales of a 
gingerbread moo-cow all tattered and 
torn, of her intimate acquaintance, who 
built a great house, and invited a young 
man who was very sad and forlorn to 
come in and kiss a maid with a crumpled 
horn. Topsy never got much further than 
this, for she was apt to wander into some 
story about ha’nts ” that lived near her 
home, about which she told questionable 
tales ; but as Polly didn’t know ha’nts ” 
from pussy-cats, the stories never excited 
her very much. 

It was in the middle of a fine story 
about Heydiddle-diddle, the cow in the 
middle, the spoon ran away with the cat ; 
the dinner plate grinned to see such 
pranks ; and the dog’s in the moon — think 
ob dat ! ” that Polly discovered she had 
dropped Jemima Jane, her most precious 
rag doll, and when they turned to look 



The}^ talked about wonderful things. 



A 


TOPSY 


53 


for her she was coming toward them in 
the hands of a beautiful young lady, who 
was escorted by a handsome young man. 

Polly forgot all about Jemima Jane 
when she saw the 
young lady ; she had 
a great eye for beauty, 

Polly had. She clapped 
her hands, and with one , 
of her most engaging 
smiles looked up in the 
young lady’s face and 
said : 

Booful ! ” 

^‘ What? This dolly 
of yours ? ” asked the young lady, hold- 
ing it out to her. But Polly didn’t see 
Jemima Jane; she held out her hands to 
the young lady. 

Oo,” she answered sweetly. Polly 
lubs 00.” 

The young man laughed till Topsy was 
afraid he would lose his balance and fall 
over, and Polly looked up at him with an 
injured air as the young lady stooped to 
the ground. 



54 


JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


^^IsnT 00 lub her?^^ demanded Polly 
in a hurt voice ; but the young lady had 
snatched Polly up and almost smothered 
her with kisses, so that the young man 
didn’t have a chance to reply. 

You darling — Pd give five dollars to 
own you for an hour ! ” exclaimed the 
young lady, with a very pretty sunset 
color in her face. What is your name, 
sweetheart ? ” 

The young man looked as if he felt 
left out in the cold, but he didn’t say 
anything, for Topsy’s next w^ords diverted 
his attention. 

Topsy had been in the house some 
little time when she was called upon to 
help Mammy with the last of the set- 
tling, and time wore on until it was 
half- past five. For some reason she 
was quite uneasy, and she kept one eye 
fixed on the front window all the time. 
Presently Katrine came down-stairs call- 
ing the baby, but Polly was nowhere 
to be found; and in a few minutes the 
whole family was searching high and low 
for her. 


TOPSY 


65 


When did you bidng her in, Topsy ? 
asked Mrs. Drury. 

I ain^ seed her sence I come in,^^ said 
Topsy airily, and then in a minute she 
burst into tears. 

^^0 — Mis’ — Lucy — I — I done — I done 
— rented — Polly ! ” 

Rented ! ” exclaimed the family 
aghast. 

^^Yes, Mis’ Lucy,” sobbed Topsy. “1 
done rented her fo’ an hour, ’cause Polly 
she cried to go an’ de young lady say she 
pay fibe dollars fo’ an hour — 0 Mis’ Lucy 
—I— I ” 

“ Why, Topsy ! ” cried Mrs. Drury, 
how could you do such a thing ! ” 

“ Dey’ll bring her back at fibe,” sobbed 
Topsy. I — I — done wanted to make 
some money fo’ Jack an’ Comp’ny — 
Dere ! ” she cried, her tears stopping as if 
by magic, as she caught sight of a young 
man carrying a sleepy little bundle with 
soft arms clasped around his neck. “ Dere 
she am. Mis’ Lucy. I done tole yo’ dey 
was hones’.” 

Polly was deposited with many thanks 


66 


JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


and a little envelope clasped tightly in 
her hand, in which was a five-dollar gold 
piece ; and Topsy was whisked off to the 
attic room — the last time Mammy tried 
to get in there — and was severely rea- 
soned with. 


CHAPTER VI 


BARGAINS AND WORK 

B en started to go to school a few 
I days after they moved, and Charlie 
went with him, enjoying immensely 
the dignity which such a proceeding lent 
him. But going to school did not cure 
him of his fondness for noise, and it re- 
quired the strict attention of the whole 
family to keep him from making them 
all deaf at the times he spent in the house. 
He developed a most wonderful fondness 
for swapping almost everything he pos- 
sessed, even to his clothes, and although 
he stoutly declared he was always satis- 
fied with his changes, the rest of the 
family were very doubtful about his suc- 
cess. One day, for instance, Katrine put 
his tie on, buttoned his jacket, and sent 
him skipping to school. He came hack 
with a gaudy yellow necktie in place of 

5 57 


58 


JACKS OF ALL TEADES 


his pretty blue one, and an ulster where 
his pea-jacket should have been. The 
difference was discovered by Cousin Helen, 
who made him promise to change back 
the next day, and fortunately the other 
small boy’s mother exacted a similar 
promise from him very readily, as his legs 
were cold in a pea-jacket. 

But his next bargain was hardly as for- 
tunate, for it refused to be swapped back,^^ 
and promptly told Charlie what it thought 
of him. • In some way he became con- 
vinced that a small brother would be an 
improvement on Polly, and so he promptly 
traded her off for a very lively small boy, 
not much younger than himself. Of 
course the family objected when they 
found it out, but the small boy, who was 
enjoying himself immensely breaking 
Charlie’s toys, insisted that a bargain was 
a bargain, and he liked it very much bet- 
ter than at home, where there were no 
toys to break, because they w^ere already 
broken. Just as the argument reached a 
very heated point, when the small boy 
had hurled a whole train of cars at Char- 


BARGAINS AND WORK 


59 


lie (fortunately missing his mark), and 
Charlie was considering the advisability 
of charging his army of tin soldiers at 
the intruder, the traded Polly appeared, 
in high feather at having been out by 
herself again to spend the afternoon, and 
her escort made forcible claims upon the 
small boy. Charlie failed to see where 
he had been at fault until a game of go- 
to-bed-without-supper was proposed, when 
he became exceedingly penitent. 

Thanksgiving was passed successfully 
by a very cheery, thankful, and cozy 
family in the Nest,’^ as they had chris- 
tened their new home. The treasurer 
was hoarding quite a sum of money in 
her bank, and the books, which were 
neatly kept by the secretary, showed that 
the people appreciated the new Company, 
and made frequent use of it. Mrs. Drury 
was slowly gaining her strength, and ap- 
peared every day now in her old place 
with the family. Jack and Ben had 
plenty of work with their tools, and Ka- 
trine w^as called upon very often. The 
boys were building a wood-house for Mr. 


60 


JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


Cole, at the other, end of the town, and 
there was an order for a large doll house 
for Christmas, which was to be sent to 
two little girls 
who lived many 
miles away. It 
was to be fur- 
nished complete, 
and Katrine had 
two dolls to dress 
to occupy it. This 
order came from 
Mr. Manning, 
who always tried to find something 
for the boys to do. But, to tell the 
truth, he hadn’t an idea to whom to 
send it until Dr. McKinney helped him 
ferret out a couple of small distant cous- 
ins, who had never even dreamed of pos- 
sessing a doll house, not to mention two 
such beautiful dolls. This was quite a 
task for the boys, for every little piece 
of Tvood had to be placed just so, and 
Jack would have nothing but the very 
best of workmanship, so that if he or 
Ben made the slightest mistake the 



BAEGAINS AND WOEK 61 

work had to be done over until it was 
perfect. 

The “ office ’’ was too tiny a place to 
work in, so the boys had rigged up a 
triple-action bell at the office door. One 
rang in the office, one in the hall, and 
one in the shed where they were apt to 
work. This arrangement made it easy 
to keep track of any one who called, 
without remaining in the office. 

Every Saturday Katrine was engaged 
to go next door to Dr. McKinney’s and 
bake. The doctor was very fond of good 
things to eat, and his old house servant 
had lost her knack of making dainties, 
so that Katrine was called upon every 
week to do these things for her friend. 
She was a natural-born cook and nothing 
ever ^^went back on her,” although at 
times she was driven almost frantic by 
the doctor himself, who, if he happened 
to be in the house when she was baking, 
was in the kitchen, putting his nose first 
into this and then into that, smacking his 
lips delightedly, and insisting upon lick- 
ing the pans ” just as if he were a small boy. 


62 


JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


What is this ? he would ask, taking 
the cork out of the molasses jug and 
squinting into its neck. ‘‘ Oh, my ! I 
really believe it is cider ! and he would 
hold the jug up and prepare to take a 
drink from its mouth, while Hester would 
shriek from the pantry where she was 
scrubbing, and Katrine, holding her floury 
hands up in horror, would dash to rescue 
the molasses. And after he had put the 
jug down with a most injured and inno- 
cent expression on his face, he would 
whistle some lively air until Katrine had 
her hands back in the bread again or 
was busy stirring the cake ; then he 
would grab one handful of raisins and 
the other of citron and caper about the 
kitchen, Katrine chasing him around the 
table and scolding, while Hester would 
come out and call reprovingly : 

0 Master Sibbey, who would ’a’ 
thought it were thirty year ago your 
father used to keep a loose shingle over 
the kitchen door to keep you in order ! 

No such thing, Hester,’^ the doctor 
would laugh. Go back to your scrub- 


BAEGAINS AND WOEK 


63 


bing. If it hadn’t been for you being jeal- 
ous of all the girls, I would have been 
married for years.” 

I don’t wonder you aren’t ! ” Katrine 
would exclaim, half out of patience. I 
reckon you’d drive your wife crazy if you 
had one. Dr. McKinney.” 

Then the doctor would laugh until the 
house fairly shook, and Mrs. Drury’s sweet 
face w^as quite sure to look out of the 
window and across the yards to see what 
all the noise was about ; and as likely as 
not Cousin Helen would peer over her 
shoulder. Then the doctor would behave 
better, for Katrine knew he stood quite 
in awe of the sweet and gentle mother. 
If their faces appeared in the sitting- 
room window the doctor was apt to slide 
out of the back door (which Katrine 
would bolt securely after him), a lump of 
brown sugar in one hand, a stick of cin- 
namon in the other, cross the yards and 
offer a bite to Mrs. Drury and ^^Miss 
Spinner,” and then spend a half-hour in 
telling them what a fine cook Katrine was 
and how proud they should be of her. 


64 


JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


Fortunately for Katrine’s work, the 
doctor was usually off making his calls, 
and then there was quiet in the kitchen 
and she could collect her wits. Once 
when the doctor was bothering her she 
put salt in the bread twice, and at an- 
other time she forgot the baking-pow- 
der in the cake, but the doctor declared 
he had always liked salt, and Hester 
would never give him enough for fear his 
bones would turn into chalk and she 
would have no one to keep house for; 
and he thought baking-powder w^as un- 
healthy anyway. Katrine made a dollar 
each Saturday morning she spent in this 
w^ay, and gained a great deal of experi- 
ence. 

At Thanksgiving the doctor, who 
seemed to be growing young instead of 
old, decided to have a dinner-party ; and 
since he didn’t have any family of his 
own he invited the Drurys — and of course 
the minister — and strangest of all, hired 
Katrine to help Hester plan the dinner 
and make the pies and superintend every- 
thing. Cousin Helen laughed heartily 


BARGAINS AND WORK 


65 


over the idea of being paid for going out 
to dinner, but the doctor didn’t mind it 
a bit. He confided to Mr. Manning, how- 
ever, that it was solely on his account 
that he had asked the boys. 

“You keep them out of the way, will 
you?” he had said, “and I’ll keep Ka- 
trine and Polly quiet.” 

But as to keeping them quiet — he was 
the noisiest one of the whole party ! 

Katrine was very tired after that ef- 
fort, but it paid her when she pushed 
the clean, crisp two-dollar bill into her 
money-box and received the grateful 
thanks of the doctor. But better than 
all was her mother’s loving kiss and “ My 
daughter is a brave little woman.” 


CHAPTER VII 


THE MARCH HARES 

M ammy rose was not quite so 
heart-broken at leaving her mis- 
tress as she might have been if the 
kitchen had been a few feet larger, or if 
she had been going far away. Two weeks 
after she had left them she came to see 
them one day. It was the very first 
they had heard of her since then, for she 
declared she would not come to see them 
until she had procured a settled place,^^ 
as she called it. Polly saw her first, and 
with a rapturous cry of delight threw her 
arms about her neck and kissed her black 
face over and over, calling her Pow’y’s 
sweet rosebud,” and other endearing 
names. 

Laws, honey,” exclaimed Mammy to 
Mrs. Drury, ^^I done t’ink yo’ nebber 
lib widout Mammy, nor Mammy widout 


THE MAKCH HAKES 


67 


yo^; but you’s all looking jes’ splendi- 
gant. Am Topsy beyaved herself? ChiF- 
en will be cliiFen at times^ honey. Dey’s 
chiFen widoiit en’ where Mammy are 
now.^^ 

But you haven’t told us where you 
have been/’ said Mrs. Drury. 

I done said nuttin’ ter nobuddy ’cept 
ter Topsy, ’cause ef I doan’ like de place 
den I wanter leabe, but Mammy’s gwine 
stay now fer sho’. Mis’ Waldron she ” 

Waldron ! ” exclaimed Jack, who had 
just come in from his work at the shop. 

Are they the people who live over near 
Starmouth, where I went that day to pol- 
ish the table ? ” 

^^Yo’ take de words out’n Mammy’s 
mouf,” said she reprovingly. Dey has 
on’y two chil’ens what belongs to ’em,” 
she added, but dey has mo’ br’er rabbits 
dan yo’ can shake a stick at.” 

W/iat f ” asked Cousin Helen. 

Rabbits,” repeated Mammy. Some 
kind o’ rabbits dey calls ’em, an’ dey turn 
de house upside down a-chasin’ and a-yel- 
lin’ an’ a-whoopin’ ” 


68 


JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


^^The March Hares cried Jack. 

Don’t you remember I told you about 
’em, Middy? It’s the same AYaldrons, 
and the ‘March Hares’ were probably 
Indians at the time Mammy describes 
them,” he added, laughing. “ Did they 
know where you came from. Mammy ? 
Did they remember me ? ” 

Mammy always preferred to tell her 
own stories in her own way, but the chil- 
dren knew that to wait for her to get to 
a point would be to wait a long time, so 
they seldom gave her a chance to finish, 
or hardly to commence a tale. Mammy 
saw she could not tell it as she wished, so 
she put one of her hands into her capa- 
cious pocket and pulled forth an en- 
velope addressed to Jack of “Jack & 
Company,” and handed it solemnly to its 
owner. 

Jack smiled delightedly ; it is so pleas- 
ant to know that people remember you, 
especially when you have very pleasant 
recollections of them. He tore the en- 
velope open and then laughed. 

“Isn’t that just like them?” he said, 


THE MARCH HARES 


69 


putting the letter into his mother’s hand, 
while the others crowded around to see. 

“ Will Jack and his Company come to 
help us find a new way of being mad next 
Saturday ? ” they read, and it was signed 
“ The March Hares ; by Sally and Paul.” 

There were various exclamations of 
delight at this, and Charlie beamed with 
ioy, for wasn’t he a member of the ‘^Com- 
pany ” ? 

“ It’ll be just bully fun ! ” he cried. 

What, my son?” asked his mother. 

‘‘Well, I mean 
just lots of fun,” 
declared Charlie. 

“ Benny says bully 
— why can’t I, Mid- 
dy?” 

“You can’t go,” 
said Jack. “They’re 
all much older than 
you.” 

Charlie burst 
into loud wails which w^ere promptly 
cpiieted by Mammy’s next words. 

“Yes, he kin,” she said. “Dey sent 



70 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


fer ’em all, Mis’ Lucy ; an’ de carryall ’ll 
be down at ’leben, Saturday.” 

Are we to stay to lunch f ” cried Ka- 
trine. Oh, what fun ! ” 

But somebody has to stay at home,” 
suggested Ben. '' Who ’s going to ’tend 
to orders if we’re all away ? ” 

‘^You can stay at home,” suggested 
Katrine. 

But that was a horse of a different 
color, and Ben thought that they might 
leave the office unattended for one day. 

It was finally settled, however, by 
Topsy being left in charge. Katrine per- 
formed her duties at the doctor’s and was 
ready to start when the Waldrons’ big 
family carriage stopped for them the next 
day. They had a jolly ride, with Sally 
Waldron to entertain them, and she and 
Katrine became fast friends before they 
reached the house. 

tell us the names of the March 
Hares,” begged Katrine. ^^Jack told us 
all about you and about them, and we 
were so interested.” 

W e’re not a bit interesting, though 


THE MARCH HARES 


71 


we do have fun/’ said Sally, showing a 
row of very white teeth in her jolly laugh. 
She was a little mite of a girl for thirteen, 
and as different from Katrine as sawdust 
is from salt. Her hair was the darkest of 
shiny browns, hanging about her shoulders 
in wild-looking curls; her blue eyes were 
bright and snappy, and her nose saucy; 
while Katrine’s light hair was always 
neatly tied in two big braids, and her 
long eyelashes blinked over a pair of big 
gray eyes, and, although her nose was as 
straight and prim as could have been de- 
sired, her mouth destroyed the resem- 
blance to a staid Quaker maiden, because 
it would laugh most of the time. Jack 
had the curls of the family — those that 
Polly didn’t have, rather — which Katrine 
was apt to declare was hardly fair play. 

There are eight of us — six besides 
Paul and me,” explained Sally, ^^and we’re 
all of us very stupid, so that we’ve done 
everything we can think of, and have to 
ask you to help us out. It w^ould never 
do for ns to be twice alike, you know. 
And since you are Jacks-of-all-trades we 


72 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 

knew you could give us lots of sugges- 
tions/^ 

Katrine laughed and shook her head. 

Don’t be too sure,” she said. “ It seems 
to me that is the hardest task we’ve had 
yet, isn’t it. Jack ? ” 

^^Why, thafs easy enough,” replied 
Jack confidently. “ If I never have any- 
thing harder than that to do I won’t have 
much work.” 

^‘What is it?” cried Charlie excitedly. 
It was so long a time since he had been 
out to spend the day that he was over- 
flowing with spirits. 

“Wait and see,” said his brother. 
“ There’s the house, Katrine — see, in 
there among the trees. And there’s the 
orchard where you Hares were playing 
as I left that day,” he added to Sally. 

“Yes, the orchard and the barn are 
our favorite places,” said Sally. “That 
is, all except Prue Dean — she would rather 
stay in the parlor all day long, I do be- 
lieve. She’s always so afraid she’ll rum- 
ple her dress, or get her hair out of curl, 
or something.” 


THE MAKCH HARES IS 

“1 donT believe I’ll like her/’ cried 
Jack. “Who are the others?” 

“ Oh, yes indeed you will — Prue ’s lots 
of fun. She has learned yards and yards 
of poetry, and will say it whenever you 
want her to ; and she acts beautifully. 
You just ought to see and hear her in 
Shakespeare ! She likes that better than 
anything else. Well, there are Prue’s 
twin brothers. Bob and Frank. Prue 
isn’t Prue’s real name. Her name is 
Miriam, but Bob nicknamed her Prue 
ever so long ago, and it just fits her. 
Then there are the two Webers — Florence 
and Beth — and Dick Lyon. Dick is our 
funny boy.” 

Sally’s description of the March Hares 
was very good, as the children found 
later, when they made their acquaintance. 
It wasn’t a bit like going into a strange 
house, for Jack’s visit had made it fa- 
miliar to the others ; and there was Mam- 
my waiting to welcome them just as if 
they had been away for a while and were 
returning to their own home. Mr. and 
Mrs. Waldron had gone away that morn- 


74 JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


ing to spend Sunday, and noise and fun 
were the order of the day. They gener- 
ally were when the March Hares were 
about, but when Mrs. Waldron was at 
home the Hares attempted to be quiet — 
once in a while when in the house. 

Mammy had prepared just the sort of 
a lunch one aches for on a brisk Novem- 
ber day, and hot waffles and chocolate 
fairly flew, which pleased her very much 
— as it always pleases a cook to have her 
handiwork appreciated. 

After luncheon Jack was called upon 
to unfold his scheme for their afternoon’s 
amusement. To tell the truth he hadn’t 
the remotest idea what to suggest, but he 
was a boy who would never acknowledge 
defeat until sure he was defeated, and he 
hoped a brilliant idea would strike him. 
But unfortunately it didn’t, and the repu- 
tation of Jack and Company Avas only 
saved by a chance remark of Charlie’s. 

Hurry up, Jack, do tell us,” cried 
Charlie, jumping up and down in his ex- 
citement. He said you must have been 
Indians the other day,” said he to Paul, 


THE MAKCH HARES 


75 


^cause Mammy said you were making so 
much noise.” 

Everybody laughed at this, but the 
idea of Indians seemed to take, and be- 
fore Jack had a chance to become anxious 
about their reputation, the March Hares 
were wildly enthusiastic on the Indian 
subject. Before many minutes had passed 
half of the party was transformed into In- 
dians and half into settlers, and there were 
wild scrimmages between the red men and 
the white. The Indians seemed to be in 
a fair way to exterminate the settlers, 
when a little accident occurred that drove 
all thoughts of fighting and capturing 
from their minds. 


CHAPTER VIII 


AN ACCIDENT 

T he settlers were steadily diminishing 
under the persistent attacks of the 
redskins. There were six of each in 
the beginning ; four of the white men had 
been captured, and were waiting for a 
chance to escape before they felt the 
deadly tomahawk. Cotton Mather and 
his wife were the ones who had so far 
escaped. These personages were known 
in every-day life as Charlie Drury and 
Sally Waldron. They were in hiding in 
the woods — otherwise the spacious barn 
and stable — when the terrible war-whoops 
of the Indians, very near at hand, fell 
upon their ears. 

They’ll find us here. Cotton,” said 
Mrs. Mather, hurriedly crawling from un- 
derneath the feed-box in one of the stalls, 
and helping her small spouse from under 

76 


AN ACCIDENT 


another feed-box by 
vigorous pulling. 

Where shall we 
fly?’^ 

‘‘To the hay- 
loft ! cried Cotton 
excitedly, making 
all haste out of the 
stalls. 

But the Indians 
were upon them be- 
fore they could reach 
the ladder that led 
to the hay-loft, where 
they would have 
been safely hidden, covered with hay ; 
and Mrs. Mather hurriedly pulled her 
husband into a small harness closet near 
by, where they huddled in the darkness. 

“ Is the door locked ? inquired Cot- 
ton Mather. “ Won’t they look in here ? ” 

“Goodness — I forgot!” exclaimed 
Mrs. Mather, jumping forward in excite- 
ment. “Thomas always leaves the key 
on the shelf here — I can’t feel it, though. 
Where does he keep his matches ? ” 



78 JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


I feel a tin box/^ said Charlie. 

Won’t they hear us strike a match ? ” 
Oh, no — yes, there are matches in that 
box. Now I’ll strike one, and you look 
for the key, Charlie.” 

The match was struck and Charlie 
reached up to the shelf, seeing the key 
behind a number of bottles. As Sally 
struck another match he reached excited- 
ly for the key, for the Indians were very 
near, and the game was as real to him as 
if he were actually to lose his scalp if cap- 
tured. A minute later there was a scream 
from Sally and a blaze in the harness 
closet. 

The scream betrayed the whereabouts 
of the whites still at large, and in a sec- 
ond the closet door was thrown open by 
them. A blaze of light, with Sally’s 
frightened face in the center, startled the 
Indians, and made them fall back a step. 

After hesitating a minute Jack grasped 
the situation, and springing forward, seized 
Sally with one hand and Charlie with the 
other. 

Run for the men ! ” he said shortly 


AN ACCIDENT 


79 


to those behind him, as he threw Sally on 
the floor and grabbed the coats that Bob 
and Frank had hurriedly taken oflf and 
handed him. He and Paul wrapped these 
quickly about Sally, rolling her on the 
floor and pressing out the flames that were 
blazing from her clothes ; Prue and Ben 
were doing the same for Charlie, whose 
coat had taken fire; Katrine and Dick 
Lyon were off like a flash to give the 
alarm and summon help, while Florence 
and Beth were dragging horse blankets 
for the relief of Sally and Charlie. 

When help arrived a few minutes later 
the fire had grown into a lively blaze, and 
the children were carrying the limp little 
body of Sally toward the house. She had 
fainted — they knew that — but how badly 
she was burned they couldn’t tell. Charlie 
was not injured, but he was very much 
frightened, and had to be carried to the 
house, too, for he caught a glimpse of 
Sally, and shutting his eyes, refused to 
open them again. 

Sally revived under Mammy’s careful 
and experienced hands, and after two or 


80 


JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


three little gasps of returning conscious- 
ness, asked whether Cotton Mather were 
captured. Then she seemed to remember, 
and putting her hand up to her singed 
curls, she inquired if they were burned. 
Mammy closed the doors to all but Ka- 
trine ; and the others, finding that Sally 
was not very seriously hurt, ran excitedly 
back to the barn. The two men had been 
able to make no headway against the 
fiames. They spread quickly from the 
harness closet to the rest of the barn; 
and a long fiery tongue, eluding every 
one’s watchful eyes and hands, licked its 
way to the hay-loft, and in a minute the 
whole loft was ablaze. Nothing less than 
two or three supplies from a city fire de- 
partment could save the building now, 
and the attention of every one was turned 
toward saving the other buildings and the 
live stock from them. The coachman 
was away with one team, which left only 
five horses in the burning building. By 
the time the flames had spread to the 
hay-loft an assemblage of neighbors and 
passers-by had gathered, and, in addition 


AN ACCIDENT 


81 


to the two lines of hose, a bucket brigade 
was formed from the well to the build- 
ings. The brigade was formed by Jack, 
who, with two or three of the neighbors 
and the other children, passed buckets of 
water with great rapidity. Suddenly a 
loud neighing cry came from the stable. 

Paul, who was standing next to Jack, 
looked very frightened for a moment. 

^^IPs Jewel — he has been forgotten ! ” 
he gasped. 

Where is he? ’’ asked Jack. 

In the very end stall,’’ said Paul, 
“ and the flames are getting near him. 
What can we do. Jack ? Sally loves him 
better than anything she owns, and her 

heart will break if ” 

Jack hesitated a moment. You 
move up a little, Paul, so’s to keep the 
buckets going. I think I can save the 
pony,” and he darted off to the end of 
the burning building. There was a small 
door leading into the feed-room, and from 
there he knew another door opened into 
the stall where Jewel was. It was the 
work of only a moment to get into the 


82 


JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


feed-room, which was beginning to fill 
with smoke, to dart across to the other 
door and grasp the knob. 

The door was locked on the other 
side ! 

Jack grew sick with horror as he real- 
ized that the beautiful, affectionate little 
pony, whose frightened cries appealed so 
strongly to him for help, was doomed to 
burn to death; and he gulped down a 
great sob as he stood hesitating for an in- 
stant. Then, with a cheerful call to the 
pony, who answered with a grateful 
whinny, he turned and fairly flew across 
the feed-room and into the fresh air again ; 
he remembered having seen an ax some- 
where. It was near at hand, for one of 
the men had been splitting wood just out- 
side the door. 

Seizing the ax, he dashed back again 
into the room, and with a few well-aimed 
blows the door fell in with a crash. The 
rush of smoke blinded him and made him 
gasp for a minute. Though the smoke 
was thick it did not conceal the fact that 
flames had broken through the other end 





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Run, Jack, run ! ” cried Paul. 



AN ACCIDENT 


83 


of the stall. J ewel was neighing piteous- 
ly and tugging at her halter, too strong 
to be broken by pulling. 

Jack had read that horses are ter- 
rified by fire, and utterly without reason 
when fiames are in sight. Poor Jewel 
was so close to the flames that her beau- 
tiful silky tail was singeing. With a 
quick movement the boy shook ofi* his 
jacket, and flinging it about Jewefs 
head, tied the arms close over her eyes 
so that she could see nothing. Then he 
whipped out his knife and slashed at 
the halter. 

The smoke was sufibcating, and the 
flames burst uproariously all over the 
stall; a sickening fear came upon Jack, 
and he felt incapable of moving. He 
made one last effort to start Jewel in the 
direction of the door, when he heard 
PauFs voice close to his ear, and felt a 
hand on his arm. 

Run, Jack, run ! cried Paul, pulling 
him bodily into the feed-room and across 
the floor. Jack, almost stupefied by the 
smoke, ran blindly, with the halter still 


84 


JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


clasped firmly in his hand, and Jewel 
stumbling after him. 

As the three emerged from the build- 
ing a great shout arose from the workers 
outside, and the front of the barn fell 
with a crash, while the feed-room burst 
into flames. 

Gentle and willing hands relieved the 
suffering pony and almost exhausted boy, 
and hurried them to a place of safety. 

Sally, who by this time had been 
carefully treated by Mammy, was sitting 
at the Avindow Avith bandaged head and 
hands. Her burns were very painful, 
but Mammy’s soothing applications Avere 
having a quieting effect, and she Avas 
watching the flames as they steadily 
burst from beam after beam, consum- 
ing everything that came in their Avay. 

Since he had been brought to the 
house and had thrown himself face down 
on the sofa cushions, Charlie had not 
moved, although Katrine had soothed him 
and told him over and over that nothing 
so dreadful had happened — that Sally 
Avas in the next room and only hurt a 


AN ACCIDENT 


85 


little. As the front of the barn fell, 
Katrine ran out on the porch, leaving 
Charlie alone, and a wobegone little face 
was lifted from the cushions to glance 
about the room. 

Oh — oh — oh ! ’’ came a cry from the 
next room, which so startled the already 
frightened child that he jumped from the 
couch in terror. 

Come quick ! called Sally, and he 
ran in just in time to see Jack stagger-% 
ing around the end of the barn, Paul 
pulling at one arm, and the frightened 
pony stumbling after. Sally fairly cried 
for joy on seeing the rescue of her be- 
loved Jewel, about whom she had not 
thought till that moment. And poor lit- 
tle Charlie was completely bewildered by 
the flames on one hand, and by the sight 
of Sally sitting calmly by the window 
and not limp and helpless as he had seen 
her carried from the barn. 

IsnT Jack the bravest, most splendid 
boy ! cried Sally. “ Don’t look so 
frightened, Charlie — I’m all right except 
a burn or two. Give me a kiss and see 


86 


JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


if I’m not ; and now run out and see if 
either Jack or Jewel is hurt.” 

Charlie gave her a very doubting kiss, 
but finding she was real fiesh and blood 
and not a ghost, his spirits revived in a 
moment; and Katrine was astonished a 
minute later to see him tearing across 
the porch and toward the group about 
Jack. 

Fifteen minutes more and the barn 
was a smoldering ruin ; the fire was en- 
tirely out, the danger over, and a solemn 
group was gathered at the house to sum 
up the injuries. Jack’s hands were some- 
what burned, and he had inhaled a 
large amount of smoke, but otherwise 
he seemed to be all right, so that the list 
of injured included only Sally, Jewel, 
Jack, and one of the men, whose foot 
had been struck by a falling beam. Mr. 
and Mrs. Waldron were not expected 
home until Monday, and Sally persuaded 
Paul to say he would prepare them for 
the sight of a singed daughter. 

It was a sad little party that was 
driven home later to tell Middy about 


AN ACCIDENT 


87 


the afternoon. Dr. McKinney dressed 
Jack^s wounds, frowning crossly all the 
time at “the carelessness of those ras- 
cally boys ! ” His face relaxed a little 
when told how the accident occurred. 
Cousin Helen laughed at him unmerci- 
fully for being so hard on the boys ; but 
that the doctor really did like girls better 
than boys was proved by the fact that he 
drove out to the Waldrons^ house that 
evening to see that Sally’s wounds had 
proper treatment, although he was well 
acquainted with Mammy’s proficiency in 
nursing. 


CHAPTER IX 


KETCH A nigger’^ 

T OPSY felt very much hurt that she 
had not been with the others at the 
time of the fire. She knew dere 
was lots of Pings I’d ^a’ done jes’ as brave 
as Marse Jack^^ and she’d ^^like nuf&n 
better ’n to yank a dozen bosses from a 
burnin’ barn — jes’ as easy as rollin’ off a 
log.” But as she didn’t have her own 
exploits to talk about, she did full justice 
to Jack’s — when he wasn’t near. She 
professed a great contempt for boys and 
their doings, but she was in reality very 
proud of her young masters. She never 
told them so, but the tales she told others 
showed what a loyal heart she kept some- 
where in her little black body. She was 
a willing slave to Katrine, ready to fly at 
any moment to obey her least wish ; and as 
for Mrs. Drury, Topsy always approached 
88 


KETCH A NIGGER 


89 


her on tiptoe, with a most respectful lit- 
tle salaam, her eyes fixed upon her mis- 
tress’s eyes, and never moving a muscle 
of her face. Her behavior with Cousin 
Helen was not quite so deferential, prob- 
ably owing to the fact that Mammy had 
not spent her life in Cousin Helen’s em- 
ploy. Topsy always called Mrs. Drury 
“ My Queen ” in her thoughts and in talk- 
ing to Polly. 

Polly and Topsy were famous com- 
panions, and there was no subject upon 
which Topsy conversed that was too deep 
for the baby. She listened with deep in- 
terest to everything Topsy had to say, 
and a choice collection of tales she heard. 

The AYednesday after the fire was a 
day full of events for the usually well- 
behaved Topsy, who started the day by 
breaking an old blue pitcher that had 
belonged to Mrs. Drury’s grandmother 
and was much prized by the family. She 
was very much frightened when she saw 
what had happened, for she had strict in- 
structions from ‘^my queen” never to 
touch the pitcher. But she was so very 

7 


90 


JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


penitent that she was forgiven upon her 
promise never to disobey again. 

Just before noon Miss Prim, who lived 
to the left of the Nest/’ called and asked 
to see Mrs. Drury ; 
and nothing but see- 
ing Mrs. Drury would 
satisfy her. So she 
was ushered up-stairs 
to the sitting - room, 
where Middy was in 
her “blue funk,” as 
Ben called one of his 
mother’s wrappers — 
one that he hated — 
and there she solemn- 
ly unfolded the reason of her call. It 
seems that Miss Prim’s house was en- 
closed in a picket fence that ended in 
two large posts at the front gate. These 
posts were square, with smooth sides, and 
Miss Prim had lately been annoyed by 
finding that some, one who possessed more 
sense of humor than artistic talent, had 
been decorating her posts. Now Miss Prim 
was possessed of neither artistic qualities 



KETCH A NIGGER 


91 


nor appreciation of the ridiculous, and 
she always talked in feet. By feet I mean 
poetical feet; she spoke in syllables, di- 
viding her sentences into iambic feet, as 
it would be called in verse ; like this : 

And I will go to townP 
Katrine opened the door, and acci- 
dentally called her Miss Iambus,^’ which 
was the very disrespectful way the chil- 
dren had of alluding to her. Of course. 
Middy didnT approve of it, but argue and 
persuade as she would, she couldn’t make 
them see that Miss Prim should be treated 
with as much respect as, for instance, other 
children should treat Cousin Helen. They 
were both old maids,” though Miss 
Iambus was probably forty-five, while 
Cousin Helen was only thirty-three. Ka- 
trine said that if Spinner looked as sour 
and cross as Miss Prim did, she would be 
willing to call her by any old name, too. 
Even if people had had lots of sorrow and 
trouble, it was no excuse for such a face 
and manner as Miss Prim had. Look at 
Middy, for instance — and there the lecture 
would end. 


92 


JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


Topsy was convulsed with laughter as 
she ushered Miss Prim up-stairs, and to 
save her reputation in the sight of my 
queen/^ she bolted from the room as soon 
as Miss Prim had entered. 

But Miss Prim’s important errand, it 
seemed, was connected with Topsy her- 
self ; for she had been 
caught in the very 
act of drawing what 
she considered a 
striking likeoess of 
Miss Iambus on that 
lady’s own post. 
Topsy was summoned 
and examined by her 
mistress and the vis- 
itor. She had not 
quite recovered from her fit of laughter 
over Katrine’s blunder, but one glance at 
Mrs. Drury’s face served to sober her. 

This is the one I saw/’ said Miss Prim 
stiffly. Are ^ou the ^irl who drew upon 
my gate f ” 

Dunno,” said Topsy sorrowfully, 
wedder yo’ seed me or not.” 



KETCH A NIGGER 


93 


Topsy ! said her mistress. 

Yes’m/^ said Topsy meekly, I — I 
done it, Mis’.’^ 

^^You must tell Miss Prim you are 
sorry and will never do so again,” said 
Mrs. Drury. 

Topsy hesitated a moment, trying to 
find words to suit her. This was the first 
time her mistress had had to reprove her 
in the presence of strangers. 

I’s sorry I’s done put yo’ to any exco- 
venience. Mis’ Prim,” she said finally, an’ 
Mis’ Lucy she says I’s sorry, an’ I’s sorry 
she’s sorry, an’ ef yo’ll fergive me I’ll go 
scrub it off’n the gate.” 

Miss Prim seemed a little mollified at 
this apology, although Cousin Helen, who 
had entered the room as Miss Prim came, 
had to leave her chair suddenly and look 
out of the window. 

I’m glad that you can see the evil 
of your waysf said Miss Prim stiffly to 
Topsy. Is this your first offense f ” 

'^’Twarn’t yo’ fence, ’twas yo’ gate- 
post,” said Topsy stolidly, while the tears 
came into Cousin Helen’s eyes, and she 


94 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 

had to leave the room in a fit of cough- 
ing. 

That will do, Topsy ; you may go/^ 
said Mrs. Drury quickly, her mouth 
twitching with a desire to laugh, while 
Miss Prim drew herself up haughtily ; and 
Topsy, taking advantage of her chance, 
backed respectfully out of the room, and 
flew down-stairs to tell Katrine how stu- 
pid Miss Prim was. Mrs. Drury was left 
to pour oil on the troubled waters — a thing 
which she always did to perfection, as 
the boys could tell from many experi- 
ences. 

Although Topsy never liked to let any 
one see that she had feelings,^^ she had 
them all the same, and that day there 
was a very sore spot in the warm heart 
hidden in the little black body. Twice in 
one day she has deserved blame at the 
hands of my queen.’^ If Miss Lucy had 
only stormed forth like Mammy Rose did, 
or if she had called her into the room 
and settled the matter with the help of 
the back of a hair-brush or a cherry 
switch, as Mammy Rose was also wont to 


KETCH A NIGGER 


95 


do, Topsy would have put on a stony 
front and have forgotten the occurrence 
as soon as the encounter was over. But 
that same little hidden heart began to 
act in a very queer manner when “ my 
queen spoke in gentle and forgiving re- 
proof, and the punishment stung much 
more than either the hair-brush or the 
cherry switch. 

Consequently that afternoon Polly’s 
nurse and companion was not the full-of- 
fun Topsy, but a grave and introspective 
little darky, thinking deeply of her sins. 

Perhaps you have never noticed it, 
but when a person thinks so very deeply 
of the sins he has committed, he is very 
apt not to look out for new sins into 
which he may stray. Still, if you happen 
to be a little black girl who is too proud 
to confide in any one but a prattling baby, 
perhaps you may have had the same ex- 
perience. 

Topsy, and Polly in her close-fitting 
little white cap and fluffy blue coat, wan- 
dered out into the country that afternoon, 
Polly doing most of the talking. There 


96 


JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


were so many wonderful things on the 
road that attracted one’s attention — the 
most fascinating balls of dirt that crum- 
bled in your hands and made a fine brown 
shower all down your pretty blue coat ; 
and curly sticks that reminded you of all 
sorts of things, from the jolly doctorman 
down to peppermint candy ; and a squirrel 
that now and then appeared on a stone 
wall and sat for a moment, tail in air, 
munching a stray nut, and looking with 
inquisitive bright little eyes at the in- 
truders. 

Ef she’d on’y jes’ looked drefful cross 
an’ boxed bofe ears,” said Topsy mourn- 
fully as the squirrel disappeared for the 
second time, it’d be all right ; but she 
jes’ sot dere an’ — an’ looked sweet — an’ it 
hurts,” she ended. 

“Middy’ll tiss an’ make it all well,” 
suggested Polly. “Oh — oh — a choo- 
choo ! Pow’y wants to see a choo-choo ! 
Turn ! ” 

They were right near the railroad 
and a train was coming — you could hear 
the engine whistle in the distance. 


“KETCH A NIGGER 


97 


Sho’ ’nufF,” said Topsy quickly, glad 
of some amusement. Here we is, Polly,^^ 
and slie lifted the baby to the bank be- 
side the track. “ But dat ain’t what de 
inj’n says, Polly, no more nor a pussy 
cat does. De inj’n ain’t goin’ to hurt a 
white baby like yo’, but it jes’ talks to 
dis yere wicked black pusson — doan’ 
yer eber be a wicked nigger, Polly — fer 
here it comes. Listen, now ; hear it 
talkin’ — ketch a nigger, chuck him under 
— ketch a nigger, chuck him under — ketch 
a nigger, chuck him under — ketch a nigger, 
chuck him under — ketch a nigger, chuck 
him under — ketch a nigger, chuck him 
under ! ” 

Topsy leaned forward and pulled an 
imaginary nigger ” toward herself, keep- 
ing time to her words as the engine ap- 
proached; and the performance of the 
weird little figure, and the rush of the en- 
gine which she had wanted to see, so fright- 
ened the golden-haired baby that she 
turned and ran blindly, stumbling at the 
first step. And before Topsy had finished 
her strange performance, the little ball of 


98 


JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


fluffy blue coat, chubby legs, pink cheeks, 
and golden curls was rolling swiftly down 
the bank, and with a splash, bounced into 
the brook at the bottom. 


CHAPTER X 


A DISAPPEARANCE 

^^/^~APEN the door!^^ called a young 
I I man as he rushed up the steps of a 
handsome frame house a few min- 
utes^ walk from the railroad. Get some 

water at once ! The sweet-faced young 
woman who was waiting on the porch to 
welcome him thought at first that he and 
his senses had parted ; but she caught sight 
of a stray golden curl peeping from the 
bundle in his arms, which told her some- 
thing had happened. Holding the door 
open for him to pass into the house, she 
ran for water and brought it just as the 
young man unwrapped his coat from the 
limp and dripping form of Polly Drury. 

Why,^^ they exclaimed together, as 
they recognized the little face, iPs our 
borrowed baby ! ” 

Jpoa minute, after bathing the white 


100 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


face with cold water and rubbing the 
little hands and arms vigorously, the blue 
eyes opened wonderingly, and then, with 
a frightened little cry, the chubby hands 
were flung about the young lady’s neck. 
When the wet clothes had been removed 
Polly closed her eyes contentedly for a 
nap, wrapped in a soft, warm blanket. 

Now,” said the young woman, shak- 
ing hands with her visitor at this late 
time, and telling him she was glad to see 
him, ‘‘ tell me where you found her.” 

Just before the train pulled into the 
station,” he explained, I folded my pa- 
per and looked out of the window, and 
as I did so I saw two figures on the bank 
where the brook twists so prettily — you 
remember? And as I looked, the baby 
turned, stumbled, and rolled out of sight 
toward the brook.” 

The young woman shuddered. 

^^The other was a wild-looking little 
darky, waving her hands and swaying 
her body to and fro. Well, I jumped 
from the train before it had stopped, 
and ran back, to find the little darky 


A DISAPPEARANCE 


101 


almost white with fright, carrying the 
child toward the road. I grabbed the 
baby and ran here, telling the girl to 
follow as quickly as possible. I wonder 
where she is — perhaps she has gone to 
the kitchen. 

The young woman rang a bell and 
asked the white-capped maid who ap- 
peared in answer to the summons, if a 
darky had arrived; but Topsy had not 
been seen. 

She must have run home to tell the 
family — I think I had better go up to 
the village and tell them myself, don’t 
you. Miss Madge ? ” 

By all means,” she answered. “ She 
belongs to ‘ Jack and Company,’ of whom 
Fve heard so much. Don’t frighten Mrs. 
Drury, because I believe she’s an invalid. 
Tell them the darling is sleeping peace- 
fully. It would be just as well to see if 
the doctor can come over, too.” 

So Mr. Kendrick Munn put on his hat 
again and went striding down the road, 
thinking how pretty Miss Madge looked 
as she bent over the sleeping child on the 


102 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


sofa. He had come from the city to 
spend the night with Miss Madge and her 
mother, and he was glad to see Polly 
again, though not in this way ; for that 
had been a very happy afternoon when 
they had borrowed Polly for a few hours. 

Charlie was the only one of the Com- 
pany at home, as there had been a rush 
of orders that afternoon. 

Katrine’s over at Green’s making 
salted almonds and things for a party to- 
morrow,” he volunteered, ^^and Jack is 
painting the Dodds’ chicken house. Ben- 
ny’s writing for the minister. Is there 
anything I can do for you ? ” he inquired 
in his most business-like manner. ^^Do 
you want a letter posted — or — or do you 
want a suspender button sewed on — I can 
run fine errands ! ” 

‘^No,” laughed Mr. Munn, ^^my sus- 
penders are all right, thank you, and I 
have no letters to post. AVhere is your 
colored girl ? ” 

‘^Topsy’s gone walking with Polly,” 
said Charlie in a disappointed tone. 

Didn’t she come back ? ” 


A DISAPPEAEANCE 


103 


said Charlie, afraid he might 
lose a possible customer. “Don’t you 
want something done ? I can leave, be- 
cause Cousin Helen’s in and she’ll answer 
the bell.” 

“ Ah ! ” said the young man. “ It is 
Cousin Helen I came to see. Eun and 
tell her.” 

In a moment Cousin Helen appeared, 
and it took but a minute for her to un- 
derstand what had happened, and to get 
her hat. 

“Tell Middy I’ve gone for a walk, 
Charlie, and don’t leave the house, for 
she may want you. — Dr. McKinney is al- 
ways out at this time of the day, but per- 
haps we shall meet him on the road,” she 
added to Mr. Munn. 

Little Polly was restless and feverish 
when the doctor reached the house la- 
ter, and he shook his head and forbade 
her being moved. So an old-time crib 
was brought from the garret to the sit- 
ting-room, and Polly was laid carefully 
in it. 

“ Now,” said the doctor, in his decided 


104 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


way, “ Miss Helen, you go home and get 
ready to nurse the child. Miss Madge 
hasnT had much experience, but she’ll 
make a good subordinate.” 

Cousin Helen looked astonished. 

‘‘Don’t mind about being a stranger,” 
added the doctor, noticing her look, “ be- 
cause I’ve known Miss Madge and her 
mother for years, and there are few peo- 
ple like them — eh, Munn ? ” 

So Cousin Helen broke the news gently 
to Middy, sent for Katrine to come home, 
and gathering up the few things she 
needed, went back to Polly’s bedside. 

And all this time not a sign was there 
of Topsy. She was not at home, nor had 
she followed Mr. Munn and Polly to the 
Winters’ house, nor had any one seen her ; 
and as Mr. Munn declared that she was 
almost as white as chalk, they concluded 
she was hiding somewhere in fright and 
would come back at supper-time, if they 
knew her. 

But Katrine prepared the supper alone, 
and it was eaten in silence by the four 
children down-stairs, for Middy did not 


A DISAPPEARANCE 


105 


feel able to leave her room. The night 
passed and no Topsy appeared, nor was 
she on hand for breakfast. Then the 
Drurys commenced to worry about her, 
for Topsy had not been known to miss a 
meal since she had come North. They 
thought she might have gone to Mammy 
Rose, and Dr. McKinney offered to drive 
out to the Waldrons’ and see. Polly had 
been restless and feverish all night, talk- 
ing in a rambling way and screaming 
every now and then ; but to-day she lay 
in a sort of stupor, not recognizing any 
one, and Miss Madge and Cousin Helen 
took turns in watching her. 

Mammy Rose had not seen her erring 
daughter, and it was with great difficulty 
that she was prevented from leaving her 
kitchen and going back to nurse little 
Polly. Mr. Waldron instituted searching 
parties for the missing darky, and the 
neighborhood for miles was scoured — 
in vain. No one had seen her since Mr. 
Munn had taken Polly from her arms. 
The neighboring towns were telegraphed 
to; but as the station-master had not 
8 


106 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


sold her a ticket, the only way she could 
have reached them was by w^alking. The 
woods were scoured by searchers, but 
not a trace of Topsy could they find. 
Mammy Rose was almost crazy with grief, 
for Topsy was her baby,’^ and although 
she wasted no affection on her when she 
was about. Mammy loved her very dearly ; 
and to think it was her Topsy who had 
made little Polly so sick was the last drop 
to make her cup of trouble overflow. 

Polly did not improve. Her plump 
little cheeks became white and hollow, 
and her big blue eyes wild and unseeing. 
She did not know Katrine, nor any one, 
and Dr. McKinney looked more grave 
and troubled each day, and even at dinner 
with the minister he was sad and silent. 
Little Polly and all the family were very 
dear to the doctor, especially since he 
had come to know them as next-door* 
neighbors. 

Jack and Ben had their hands full 
these days, for there was much to be done 
at home, as well as the outside work to 
be attended to. Middy, w^ho was gaining 


A DISAPPEAEANCE 


107 


her strength nicely when Polly became ill, 
w^as in a very nervous condition and un- 
able to leave her room ; and without Top- 
sy, and Cousin Helen to help and advise, 
Katrine had her hands more than full. 
Charlie had errands to run to his heart’s 
content, and his feet were kept in action 
all day between the Nest ” and Miss 
Madge’s house, carrying messages from 
Cousin Helen about Polly’s condition. 

Regular business was not neglected, 
however, although every one was very 
kind, even the fussy doctor telling Hester 
she must invest in baker’s bread, a thing 
which the fastidious man had always re- 
fused to touch, but which at this time he 
pretended to eat with much relish. 

Imagine the doctor’s surprise, how- 
ever, on getting home late to tea on a 
Saturday night and finding deliciously 
plump hot rolls, fresh bread and cake, 
and Hester with a mysteriously pleased 
smile on her usually grim face. The doc- 
tor was tired and hungry, and he was 
more pleased even than Hester had ex- 
pected him to be. 


108 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 

Which of the neighbors honored us, 
Hester ? ” he asked. “ Who sent ^em in ? 

Nobody, said Hester. They were 
made in the house.^^ 

Katrine surely hasn’t been in, with 
all she has to do ! ” exclaimed the doctor. 

No,” replied Hester mysteriously. 

You made them, Hester ? They’re al- 
most as good as Miss Katrine’s, I declare ! ” 
Hester shook her head. It was Mr. 
Jack,” said she. 



CHAPTER XI 


DARK HOURS 

C HRISTMAS was upon the little family 
in the ^^Nest^^ before they realized 
it ; only ten days were left to prepare 
so many things that had been undertaken. 
Katrine’s hands were full indeed, with 
commissions from many people who were 
too busy or too lazy to make their own 
presents, and her needle and brush fairly 
flew. Cousin Helen, who was an artist, 
had given her a number of lessons in dec- 
orating, and Katrine was so apt a pupil 
that she gained quite a reputation for her 
tasty little figures and decorations, and 
her original designs for embroidery were 
eagerly sought for. Work piled up so 
that Middy had to come to her daughter’s 
help. Polly, but a faint shadow of her 
former rosy, roly-poly self, had been 
brought home from the Winters’, and 

109 


no JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


Spinner took entire care of her, for 
she needed very careful watching. Dr. 
McKinney had pronounced her out of 
danger, hut the baby did not seem to 
improve ; she grieved for Topsy and asked 
for her every day in the most pitiful way. 

Not a word had been heard from 
Topsy; she had disappeared as entirely 
as if the mouth of the earth had suddenly 
opened and swallowed her. Poor Mammy 
Rose looked sad and worn, and com- 
plained that she was growing old. She 
could think of nothing but her lost Topsy, 
and her tears fell so freely that they in- 
terfered with her work. 

If Jack and Company were any good 
at all they’d find Topsy for you. Mammy,” 
said Sally one day. They’re supposed 
to be able to do any and everything.” 

^^No pusson cud do nuffin’,” replied 
Mammy, wiping the tears from her eyes. 

Mammy’s own li’F gal done bin speerited 
away. Topsy, she was de bestest li’f 
da’ter Mammy Rose eber had, an’ now 
dere’s no one ter keer fer Mammy in her 
ole age.” 


DARK HOURS 


111 


Poor Mammy ! said Sally, patting 
her arm affectionately; and just then a 
plan flashed through her mind. She and 
Paul held a very secret conversation, 
with the result that their father was con- 
sulted, and two small heads bent over 
two small savings-bank books, and the 
figures were added up, and some subtrac- 
tion done, which did not leave very much 
of a balance in the books. 

“ There ! cried Salty. If, as you 
say, papa, some one may be keeping 
Topsy in the hope of getting a reward, 
that ought to tempt him. Listen : 

^ One hundred dollars reward for in- 
formation as to the whereabouts of a 
colored girl, thirteen years old, named 
Topsy Pink, strayed from Cicero, No- 
vember 31st.^ 

‘^Are you sure you want to do it?^^ 
asked Mr, Waldron. 

Yes,’^ they cried together. 

^^If it will bring Topsy back and 
make Mammy and little Polly Drury 
stop grieving it is certainty worth try- 
ing,^^ said Salty. don’t know what- 


112 JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


ever I should have done with the money, 
anyhow/^ 

ril add another hundred to it,’^ said 
Mrs. Waldron, who had entered the li- 
brary quietly, and had heard the con- 
versation. 

Really, mother?^’ cried Sally de- 
lightedly, clapping her hands. ^^Just 
think, Paul, two hundred dollars ! That 
ought to find her.’’ 

I can’t let your mother be more 
generous than I am,” said Mr. Waldron, 
laughing. Suppose you make it three 
hundred, chicks, and if she isn’t found by 
Christmas Eve I’ll make it five.” 

Hurray for father ! ” shouted Paul. 
‘^Now that’s what I call a handsome 
thing to do. Come on, Sally ; we must 
put the advertisement in the Cicero Local 
— and where else, father ? ” 

^^In all the papers of the surround- 
ing villages, and put notices in the post- 
offices, too, I think,” replied Mr. Wal- 
dron. ^^You must engineer it yourself, 
Paul.” 

So Paul and Sally ordered the carriage 


DARK HOURS 


113 


and started out, ending their labors by 
putting a notice in six little village papers 
and as many post-offices. And then they 
drove to the Nest/^ to tell their wonder- 
ful plan to the Drurys. They had intended 
to wait until their friends saw the notices, 
but the temptation to see how they re- 
ceived the news was too great, and they 
drove up just as lunch was over. They 
were greeted with cheers and shouts 
when they told their news ; for with 
three hundred dollars offered, the Drury 
children had no doubt that whoever was 
detaining Topsy would jump at such bait. 
Middy and Spinner were not as sanguine, 
but they were delighted with the kind 
thoughtfulness of the children’s friends. 

The offered reward, however, did not 
have immediate effect; but after a few 
days an answer came to the advertise- 
ment, in the shape of a colored man, who 
told of finding Topsy in the woods, and 
after a great deal of trouble and expense 
with doctors, bringing the apparently ex- 
hausted child to life. 

Whar am she ? ” demanded Mammy 


114 JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


Rose excitedly. ^^Wot color eyes hab 
de chile, man ? 

^^She am safe/^ declared the man. 
^^Her eyes am — well, her eyes am ma- 
genta.^^ 

DaFs her sho ! exclaimed Mammy, 
rushing for her shawl and preparing to 
go with the man. 

“1 doan’ show de gal till I gits de 
money,^^ declared the man doggedly. 

You most certainly will not get the 
money until we have seen the child,’^ said 
Mr. Waldron. Where is she ? ” 

At Boxboro — thirty miles off,’^ said 
the darky. ^^An’ I done spent my las’ 
cent ter get hyar.” 

Paul, who had been away on his 
wheel, happened back just at this time. 

^^Topsy’s foun’!” cried Mammy joy- 
fully, as she saw him. Then the case was 
explained to Paul, who drew his father 
aside for a moment. 

There’s a rickety old wagon on Cross 
Lane with a darky girl holding the 
horse,” said he, and I shouldn’t wonder 
if she is the girl he is trying to make us 


DAKK HOUES 


115 


think is Topsy ; she is about the size of 
Topsy. I didn’t think of it being she, or 
I’d have stopped. I’ll go right back 
now.” 

^^Wait,” said Mr. Waldron. ^‘If it 
were Topsy, she would have come right 
over here to her mother.” 

^^But, father, she’s never been here; 
and anyway she doesn’t know the coun- 
try around here, so she’d have to wait 
there until the man came back.” 

You are right,” agreed Mr. Waldron, 
^^ril engage the man’s attention if you 
can get Mammy Rose quietly out to the 
buggy — it’s waiting at the stable door — 
and drive over. We couldn’t keep her 
here until you go, for she would insist 
upon starting off with the man. She has 
gone for her hat — hurry or she will come 
out this side of the house.” 

Paul caught Mammy on the stairs, 
and hurriedly telling her what he had 
seen, they started off together. Mammy’s 
face fairly transformed with joy. 

It probably isn’t Topsy, Mammy,” 
said Paul, fearing it might not be, and 


116 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


that the disappointment would be more 
than she could bear. 

^^It’s jes’ sure certain ter be/^ de- 
clared Mammy. ^‘Mammy’s own liT 
Topsy ! she kept murmuring to herself, 
Mammy’s own li’F los’ chile come back 
at las’.” 

When Cross Lane was reached the 
girl was still there, and as they approached 
the wagon Mammy leaned forward to 
look at her, then sank back in her seat 
with a groan. At the same moment Paul 
perceived that she was a dirty, stupid- 
looking child, and in no way resembling 
bright, neat little Topsy. 

Without a word they turned back. 
By the time they had reached the gate 
Mammy was sitting bolt upright. Mr. 
Waldron was still talking to the man, 
who seemed to be growing a trifle uneasy. 
The horse stopped, and Mammy, with a 
bound that would have been a credit to 
her little daughter, was on the ground, 
with the horsewhip in her hand. 

You ! ” she shrieked, giving the man 
a terrible blow with the whip. 


DARK HOURS 


117 


The man took to his heels, Mammy 
running after him with remarkable agility, 
flourishing the whip and 
stammering, Y-y-you ! ” 
the only word she could 
seem to manage in her 
terrible indignation. The 
whip did not touch him 
again, however, for he 
quickly doubled the dis- 
tance between himself and 
Mammy. 

After this Mammy 
hobbled back and took 
to her bed with a bad attack of rheu- 
matism, and insisted that she was gwine 
die fo’ sho.^^ 

As for the man, he disappeared, and 
that was the last they heard of or saw 
of him. 



CHAPTER XII 


BEN USES HIS WITS 

N othing further occurred in answer 
to the advertisements, except that 
a great many people volunteered 
the information that they had seen, with- 
in the last week, a colored girl who might 
answer TopSy’s description. But nothing 
came of this information. Paul and Sally 
were discouraged when the day before 
Christmas came, for there was not very 
much Christmas feeling about when Mam- 
my was so heartbroken. The day before 
they had been at the ^^Nest,^^ and had 
heard Polly, with tears streaming down 
her face, run to the chimney and cry : 

0 Tammy Taus, Tammy Taus, if ooll 
b’ing back Powy’s Topsy, Powy don’t 
want no pussy-tat, nor bunny, nor tandy, 
nor miffin’.” 

^^It’s — it’s awful!” declared Sally to 
118 


BEN USES HIS WITS 


119 


the March Hares. I doiiT care about 
giving a soul a thing for Christmas, and 
I donT care one bit about the New Year’s 
party.” 

Nor I — nor I,” came from every 

side. 

“I’ll tell you just why it is,” said 
Prue. “It’s because the Drurys aren’t 
Hares. I’m not ashamed to confess it — 
I’ve fallen in love with ’em all.” 

“ That’s just it exactly ! ” cried Sally. 
“ And if you knew the rest of the family 
you’d be fonder of ’em still. Maybe you’ll 
think I’m a traitor — but, say. Hares, let’s 
reform our constitution, so we can take 
some more members in.” 

There was silence for a moment, so 
stunned were they by this unheard-of 
proposition, for they had rigorously de- 
nied admittance to all comers ; and then 
every hare of them jumped up with a 
wild yell of acquiescence. 

Some talking and planning was done 
that afternoon, and when the meeting 
broke up Paul and Sally looked more 
cheerful. 


120 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


‘‘ I don’t believe it is of any use to 
raise the reward/’ said Paul, preparing 
to go the rounds of the post-offices on his 
bicycle, to carry out his father’s offer. 

But it will not hurt to try. Good-by, 
Sally.” 

There certainly w^as no prospect of a 
merry Christmas at the ^^Nest,” for the 
whole family felt sad. But w^ork is good 
to help one forget a sorrow, and they 
threw themselves heart and body into 
work. Ben, that Christmas Eve, was sent 
for to go up to the Rockery to help pack 
a number of presents to be despatched 
that night, and he worked away with a 
will, stuffing the vacant spaces in the boxes 
with bunches of straw or rolls of old news- 
papers, a pile of which was at his elbow. 
It was nine o’clock, and he was very tired 
and sleepy, and glad that the last box was 
filled and ready for the cover. He slowly 
selected the nails to fasten the cover, and 
drove the first one in crooked, then pulled 
it out, and seeing a corner which needed 
an extra bit of filling, he reached over and 
took a piece of newspaper from the pile 


BEN USES HIS WITS 


121 


that had been steadily diminishing all the o 
evening. There was a picture of a new 
thrashing-machine, which was interesting 
to Ben, for he had a good head for ma- 
chinery, and was fond of every kind. 
From the picture his attention strayed to 
the paragraph following, and in a minute 
every bit of sleepiness vanished from his 
eyes, and they were big and round with 
excitement. This is what he saw : 

“ The first occupant of the children’s ward 
in our hospital is a stranger. She is a little 
colored girl, some twelve years old. No one 
knows where she came from, and as she is un- 
able to speak, or even to move, it is possible 
the authorities may never know anything about 
her. Dr. Bryce pronounces it a very critical 
case, and gives it as his impression that the 
child has been starved. She was brought to 
the hospital by a railroad employee, who says 
she was taken from a freight-car which stopped 
a few minutes at the station. No one on the 
car knew anything about her, but the general 
opinion is that she was a ‘ stowaway.’ ” 

It might be Topsy, though how Topsy 
could be on a freight-train was more than 


122 JACKS OF ALL TEADES 


• Ben stopped to explain to himself. The 
paper was only a piece which had been 
torn to pack with, and there was no word 
to tell where the hospital was located. 
In a minute the carefully packed box was 
unpacked and the contents on the floor, 
while Ben was on his knees carefully 
searching for every little bit of paper that 
could once have belonged to the sheet. 
It was almost a Chinese puzzle, but it 
was finally accomplished, and Ben was in 
possession of the information that the 
hospital was in a small though flourishing 
town in Indiana. 

With more haste than care the box 
was packed again and the lid nailed on ; 
and with his precious bit of information 
in his pocket Ben was more than ready 
to go home. 

Mr. Hewing, who had never been very 
high in favor with the Drury family, prob- 
ably only for the reason that he occupied 
their dear old home, seemed much pleased 
with the work Ben had done. He did 
not offer to pay for it on the spot, how- 
ever, as Ben had hoped he would do ; for 


BEN USES HIS WITS 


123 


Ben had a project on hand which he did 
not propose to divulge to any one at pres- 
ent, and for which some money was needed 
immediately, while he had not a cent in 
his pocket. He had too much pride to 
ask Mr. Hewing for his evening’s earn- 
ings, so he said good night as pleasantly 
as he could, considering that Mr. Hew- 
ing had totally overlooked the fact that 
the wish of a Merry Christmas” goes a 
long way on a cold Christmas Eve to 
cheer a boy who has always made much 
of such greetings ; and went off, thinking 
deeply for one who is not given to har- 
boring many thoughts but those of fun 
and mischief. 

It would not do to ask the treas- 
urer for money, for suspicions would 
be aroused; he would have to borrow 
of somebody. But of whom ? 

The clatter of horses’ hoofs answered 
the question for him, and in a minute 
he had hailed the very man you would 
think he would have avoided^ — Dr. Mc- 
Kinney. 

Hi, there ! ” called Ben sharply in 


124 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


his free and easy manner. Hullo, 
Dr. McKinney! Stop a moment, will 
you ? 

The doctor pulled up shortly. Who 
is it? What’s wanted? Some of the 
Rockery people sick ? ’’ he called. 

The doctor was alone, and Ben climbed 
into the buggy, without another word, 
before the doctor had time to see who it 
was. 

^‘You young footpad!” he cried 
wrathfully, when he distinguished Ben. 

If I had known it was you I wouldn’t 
have stopped. What monkey tricks are 
you up to at this time of night ? ” 

Just what I thought, doctor,” said 
Ben calmly, tucking the robe snugly about 
his feet. He wasn’t a bit afraid of Dr. 
McKinney and his blustering ways. Ben 
had an idea he knew just one thing about 
the doctor which gave him an advantage, 
for he was quite sure the doctor w^ould 
come to any terms rather than have this 
thing known. Oh, Ben was a far-sighted 
youngster indeed ! 

^^I’ve a mind to throw you over- 


BEN USES HIS WITS 


125 


board/’ said Dr. McKinney. You look 
as if you were up to mischief.” 

“All right/’ said Ben, settling him- 
self comfortably on the cushions. “Go 
ahead, doctor ; it’s a pity people are born 
with their looks, isn’t it? But, I say, 
doctor ” 

Ben hesitated a little, and his voice 
was not quite as saucy as usual, which 
made the doctor turn and look at him. 

“ What is it, jackanapes ? ” 

“ Will you lend me a couple of dollars, 
doctor ? ” 

“ What ! ” cried Dr. McKinney. “ What 
do you want it for ? ” 

“ I can’t tell,” replied Ben. 

“ I’ll make a bargain with you,” said 
the doctor slowly. “ If you’ll answer me 
two questions, and promise me you’ll get 
into no great mischief with it — you’re 
bound to get into some kind, I suppose — 
why, I’ll do it.” 

“ All right,” agreed Ben. “ I’m will- 
ing. The money is for a Christmas pres- 
ent for the family, and ” 

Dr. McKinney looked unbelieving. 


126 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


— and Cousin Helen/^ finished Ben, 
looking at the doctor out of the tail of 
his eye. 

The doctor tried to look as if he 
had not heard this, but by the way he 
whipped the horses Ben knew that he 
had, and he giggled under his breath. 

^^Fire away, doctor,^^ he said pleas- 
antly. I’m in earnest this time. I want 
the money, and I’ll pay it back in a couple 
of days.” 

It is yours,” said the doctor. Now, 
who tied my horses the other day when 
I stepped into the Winters’ house while 
Polly was sick ? ” 

‘‘ I did,” replied Ben innocently, w^hile 
a smile stole over his face, discreetly 
turned away from the doctor, at the 
thought of how funny the doctor had 
looked when he tried to drive off with 
the horses securely tied to the hitching- 
post. ^^Did you think it safe to leave 
them untied?” 

The doctor didn’t answer. 

^^What else?” asked Ben. ^^I want 
to get out at the station and send a tele- 


BEN USES HIS WITS 


127 


gram/^ he added, with an important air, 
which made the doctor open his eyes in 
astonishment. 

“ Never mind the other, replied the 
doctor, who was a trifle afraid of Ben’s 
saucy tongue. 

Thank you,” said Ben, as he jumped 
from the buggy. “I’ll do as much for 
you some day. I’m quite sure you’re not 
a bit too old for — ” he started, and had 
just time to dodge a lash from the doc- 
tor’s whip. 

The telegram Ben sent was to the 
physician whose name was mentioned in 
the newspaper paragraph. 

“ Colored girl missing. Telegraph de- 
scription patient children’s ward. B. 
Drury.” 


CHAPTER XIII 


A DEPARTURE AND A TELEGRAM 

C HRISTMAS was the sort of a day 
that made you feel glad you were 
alive; brisk, clear air, and bright 
sunshine to warm you when your fingers 
tingled. B. Drury had an uncontrollable 
attack of the fidgets, which didn’t add 
much to his happiness nor to the happi- 
ness of the family ; but as he kept in con- 
stant motion between the telegraph ofiBice 
and the house, his fidgeting harmed no 
one but himself. 

Polly was worse. Her little golden 
head lay almost motionless upon the pil- 
low, and the big blue eyes, full of unshed 
tears, were wide open and restlessly mov- 
ing to and fro ; not even a plump little 
stocking from Santa Claus interested her. 
She smiled faintly at the little toys that 
would usually have brought forth peals 
128 


A DEPAKTUKE AND A TELEGKAM 129 


of laughter and delighted appreciation. 
She didn’t say a word, but they all knew 
for what those big eyes w^ere searching. 

Dr. McKinney came in to see her, and 
to Cousin Helen, who followed him down- 
stairs, he said that unless something could 
be done to keep the baby mind from 
dwelling on her lost Topsy, he was very 
much afraid that little Polly would 
speedily fade away. 

“ There’s but one thing I can suggest. 
Miss Helen, and it must be tried if w^e 
wish to save her. You must take Polly 
South.” 

Cousin Helen looked grave. I don’t 
see how it is possible, doctor,” she said. 

It must be done, and at once,” said 
the doctor decidedly. If it is not done, 
I won’t answer for the child’s life. If it 
is done, and nothing unforeseen occurs, 
she will pull through, I believe. You 
must go to Virginia, right where you can 
find lots of pickaninnies like Topsy. If 
money stands in your way. Miss Helen,” 
the doctor added kindly, '' do not bother 
about that. Mrs. Drury and I are old 


130 JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


enough friends to lend and borrow when 
occasion requires it. But I wouldn’t worry 
her by talking of it, Miss Helen — time 
enough for those things when everything 
is straightened out.” 

You are more than kind, doctor, but 
I dislike being so indebted to you when 

we can never repay ” 

Dr. McKinney’s honest eyes were 
blazing with indignation. 

Pay fiddlesticks. Miss Helen ! ” he 

cried. You — I — we ” the doctor was 

getting very much twisted. 
‘‘ I’m going to buy tickets 
and make arrangements 
at once,” he finished gruff- 
ly. “You start to-night. 
Where is the old Cubberly 
home ? ” 

“Passed into other 
hands,” said Spinner sadly. 
“But I think — yes, I’m 
quite sure — that a dis- 
tant cousin of mine will take us if we 
write ” 

“Write fiddlesticks!” exclaimed the 



A DEPARTUKE AND A TELEGRAM 131 


doctor, snapping his fingers at the idea. 

course she’ll take you in; but you 
must go, at any rate,” and he jotted down 
the name of the cousin and small town ; 
and before Cousin Helen could say another 
word he had gone to make arrangements, 
as he had threatened. 

That was a busy Christmas day for 
all at the Nest.” Bags were packed and 
plans were made with surprising rapidity. 
Everybody had some suggestion to offer 
or some little thing to do which would 
add to the comfort of the travelers on 
their night’s journey. The treasurer was 
called upon for some money ; no one but 
she and Cousin Helen knew that Dr. Mc- 
Kinney had a finger in the pie, and that he 
had paid the greater part of the expenses. 
It worried them somewhat, for the doc- 
tor had not been paid a cent for all his 
services in either Middy’s or Polly’s ill- 
ness ; but what could one do with such a 
man ? . He had never even sent in a bill, 
and you might just as well try to per- 
suade him to do what he didn’t want to 
do as to expect Bunker Hill to step down 


132 JACKS OF ALL TEADES 


to New York for the asking. Little Polly 
was to be carried to the train, and at 
four o’clock Dr. McKinney appeared and 
superintended packing her into a huge, 
warm bundle. 

She’ll come back all right in a couple 
of weeks,” he said to Katrine. Don’t 
look so frightened,” he added crossly. 

You must laugh and be jolly, and keep 
the others in spirits. If you — if you cr?/,” 
a deep frown appeared on his pleasant 
brow, — you’ll be responsible for my 
life, for I vow if you shed a tear I’ll make 
my own bread and pies and cake forever 
afterward ! ” 

Gracious goodness ! ” cried Katrine, 
with as much of a smile as she could 
muster. I’ll try not to make you com- 
mit suicide, doctor, but I just feel as if 
the tears would come. Do you — do you 
really and truly think — are you sure that 
Polly will come back home again ? ” And 
the tears that Katrine had said were 
ready to start, showed themselves, and 
one really rolled down her face and dis- 
appeared in her lap. 


A DEPARTURE AND A TELEGRAM 133 


Here ! cried the doctor, stop that 
— not another one, or I’ll get somebody 
else to do my cooking for me. No one 
is sure that to-morrow will come ; but I 
am as sure that Polly will come back — 
but it is possible she may be no better, 
mind — as I am that there will be a to- 
morrow. Now, look pleasant again, for 
goodness’ sake, and I’ll whisper a secret 
to you, if you’ll promise not to tell till six 
o’clock to-night.” 

^‘I’ll promise if it’s nothing wrong,” 
said Katrine, smiling through her tears. 
She looked upon the doctor as a very big 
boy of whom she had especial charge, and 
as she knew he liked to joke, she was 
always chary with her promises. 

Well,” said the doctor, bending over 
till his lips were close to her ear, Fm 
going too ! ” 

With a cry of delight, Katrine flung 
her arms about his neck and hugged 
him. 

Please excuse me, doctor, but I’m so 
glad ! ” she cried. I must run and tell 
Middy — it will cheer her up.” 


134 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 

Here, ma’am — how about your 
promise?” called the doctor, catching 
her dress. 

^^Oh — did you mean that? Can’t I 
tell yet ? ” 

“ No,” answered he. There’d be a 
terrible howdy-do; but if I get on the 
train, and the train starts before I get off, 
there’s no help for it — see ? ” 

Oh ! ” said Katrine. 

^^Yes,” repeated the doctor sheep- 
ishly. There might be an awful howdy- 
do. I’ve arranged everything — and I 
want a holiday; if your mother needs a 
doctor send for Dr. Clarke. He will take 
charge of my patients. That’s better — 
you look pleasanter now.” 

^^Yes,” said Katrine, feel better — 
but I’m just aching to tell.” 

“ Tell what ? ” asked Ben, opening the 
door. Have you a secret too ? ” 

Too f ” asked Katrine. Have you 
one? I’ll tell you mine at six o’clock 
to-night.” 

Perhaps I’ll tell you something too,” 
said Ben mysteriously. 


A DEPARTURE AND A TELEGRAM 135 

He has a secret, the young monkey ! 
said the doctor. What do you suppose 
he did last — but fortunately for Ben, 
Cousin Helen announced just then that 
all was ready, and in a few minutes the 
procession was on the way to the train, 
leaving some sad faces at home; and 
more at the station when the train puffed 
out, with Cousin Helen wildly gesticu- 
lating to the unperturbed doctor to make 
him leave the train before it was too 
late. 

The doctors secret was no sooner dis- 
closed to the family, than Ben rushed in 
breathless, waving a telegram above his 
head and shouting : 

Has Topsy a birthmark on her left 
upper arm ? 

Hush ! called Katrine ; Middy’s 
trying to rest. Let me see. What is it 
— a telegram ? ” 

^^Yes,” said Ben excitedly. ^‘Where’s 
Jack? Say, Jack, come listen to this; 
^ Colored girl ; brown dress ; white apron ; 
turban ; birthmark left upper arm. Dr. 
Bryce.’ ” 


136 JACKS OF ALL TEADES 


And in answer to the questions asked 
in rapid succession by Jack and Katrine, 
Ben told his secret, and how he hoped 
this was Topsy. 

I hope it is,^^ sighed Katrine, reading 
the slip of newspaper carefully, ^^but it 
caif t be, Benny. Topsy could never have 
gone to Indiana, and there may be a hun- 
dred girls dressed in brown dresses and 
turbans.^^ 

Hundreds,’^ agreed Jack. You’ve 
just wasted the money on telegrams. 
Where did you get the money, any- 
how ? ” 

^^But about the mark?” asked Ben, 
ignoring the question. Don’t you know, 
Katrine ? ” 

Katrine shook her head. 

Wouldn’t Middy know?” asked 

Ben. 

'^Of course not,” said Katrine. ^'It 
can’t possibly be Topsy, anyway, Ben. 
She couldn’t have been on a freight- 
car.” 

Ben’s confidence in his telegram was 
a trifie shaken by the cool view Jack and 


A DEPARTUKE AND A TELEGRAM 137 


Katrine took of the matter ; but not en- 
tirely discouraged, he started out on the 
long walk to the Waldrons^ house to 
consult Mammy Rose on the important 
point. 



10 


CHAPTER XIV 


TWO SURPRISES 

f I IWO ? Did you say it was only just 
I two, Katrine? Are you sure the 
clock isn’t fast or slow or some- 
thing ? ” 

^^It’s just right by the church clock/’ 
said Jack, answering for Katrine, who 
had her mouth too full of pins to do any- 
thing but grunt. And the church clock 
is connected with one of the sun’s beams, 
Charlie, so that it can’t possibly be fast 
or slow.” 

But what does it do on rainy 
days, then?” asked Charlie, stopping 
his whistling long enough to look at 
Jack in astonishment. 

I can’t tell you unless I’m paid for 
it,” said his brother, and I’m afraid to 
trust you. I can’t do business for noth- 
ing.” 


138 


TWO SUKPKISES 


139 


He^s teasing you” said Katrine, 
sticking the last pin in the hat she was 
trimming. stop, Jack. It^s more 

disagreeable to tease than it is to pester 
a person with questions. Mr. Manning 
said the clock was right when he was 
here this morning, Charlie; thaCs the 
reason we know it is right.^^ 

^^And the train gets in at three 
asked Charlie. 

^^Yes — and oh, w'on’t we be glad to 
see them all again! Just think, six 
whole weeks since they left, and nearly 
three months since Topsy was lost I 
DoesnT it seem queer that everything 
has turned out all right ? I reckon thaCs 
why Middy is feeling so well — there^s 
nothing to worry about at all, and only 
things to be glad for.^^ 

^^And the train comes in at three,’^ 
said Ben, who was full of importance, for 
hadnT he been the cause of half of the 
excitement to-day? ^^Mr. Manning will 
be here with the carriage at twenty 
minutes of, Katrine. I bet old Nebuchad- 
nezzar will be as glad to see the doc. as 


140 JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


we will be to have Polly and Spinner 
hack” 

“Wedl all he glad/^ declared Katrine. 

And won’t they be surprised to see Mid- 
dy out ! Just think, this is the first time 
since we came to the ^Nest’ that she has 
been able to go! I’m so glad, I don’t 
know what to do ! ” And Katrine clasped 
her hands ecstatically, regardless of the 
hat she was crushing. 

‘‘ I’m going with Middy,” said Charlie. 

^^No, you’re not,” said Jack de- 
cidedly. Katrine’s going with her, 
and then Spinner and Polly will ride 
home while she walks. You can come 
with us.” 

As Jack finished his sentence the door- 
bell rang loudly. 

Jiminy 1 I hope it isn’t a customer I ” 
exclaimed Ben. “Suppose it should be, 
just when we are going to meet them, 
too.” 

“Well, go open the door and see,” 
said Katrine. “ I must run up-stairs and 
help Middy dress.” 

It proved to be Mammy, decked out 


TWO SUKPEISES 


141 


in her best, for to-day was a gala-day for 
her. The girl in the Indiana hospital had 
proved to be Topsy. She was to meet 
the doctor and Cousin Helen in the city, 
and they were all expected on the three- 
o’clock train. There was no doubt now 
that the girl was Topsy, for there had been 
several letters exchanged between the hos- 
pital doctor and the Nest ” people, and 
as soon as Topsy came to herself she had 
asked for Mis’ ’Trine and Polly ; and now 
she had recovered sufficiently to be sent 
back, the doctor writing to B. Drury, 
Esq., who had conducted the whole affair, 
that he thought as soon as she was at 
home again she would gain her strength. 
Mammy, who had been positive that the 
girl was Topsy from the time Ben had 
waved the telegram before her eyes, now 
beo-an to be doubtful. She had come 

O 

over to meet the train, however, in spite 
of her doubt. 

I clar to goodness. Mis’ Lucy, dat ar 
li’F nigger gal cyan’t be Mammy’s Topsy ; 
I jes’ doan’ believe hit.” 

^^What are you here for, then. Mam- 


142 JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


my ? asked Katrine, laughing, and help- 
ing arrange her mother’s dress. 

Sho’, yo’ did’n’ s’pose Mammy came 
ter meet a li’F nigger gal ! Ain’ Polly an’ 
Miss Helen cornin’ back ? ” 

‘^Yes, of course, but you can’t fool us. 
Mammy. You wouldn’t have come all 
this way and in this style for Cousin Helen 
and Polly,” laughed Katrine. And you 
know there’s just a small chance that the 
^ li’l’ nigger ’ may be Topsy.” 

Press de Lord ! ” whispered Mammy. 
Just then the bell rang again, and in a 
minute Ben, who had answered the call, 
appeared at the door. 

It’s all up, Katrine,” he called. 

Here’s an order for you. It’s little 
Willie Brown ; he says his mother wants 
you right away ; she thinks their kitten 
is going to have another fit.” 

^^Oh dear, oh dear! tell him I earCt 
go,” cried Katrine. I am going down 
with Middy, you know, and that upsets 
everything.” 

You would better go, dear,” said 
Mrs. Drury. ^^If you are not back in 


TWO SUKPEISES 


143 


time, Mammy can ride down with me; 
hurry, and you will be able to get to the 
station on time.’^ 

All right, if you say so. Middy, dear. 
Mammy, take good care of her if I donT 
get back here,^^ cautioned Katrine, and oif 
she rushed to rub some turpentine under 
the kitten’s chin and on its chest to pre- 
vent the fit, as she had long ago promised 
she would do when next necessary. 

As she ran out she caught sight of 
Ben and Jack, with long faces too ; for 
they had just received a call to move 
some trunks at once 
for a Miss Weather- 
by, a delightful little 
old lady who lived 
all alone ; the work 
wasn’t hard or long, 
and by hurrying they 
certainly could man- 
age to reach the sta- 
tion at train time. 

As the three-o’clock train steamed into 
Cicero, a breathless girl, her tw'o flaxen 
pig-tails flying behind her, ran up from 



144 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


one side, while from the opposite direction 
came two boys, on a dog-trot. Their 
mother was waiting in the carriage with 
Mr. Manning; and Mammy, her heart 
palpitating with joy and her hands nerv- 
ously clasping and unclasping each other, 
was waiting on the platform, with a big 
tear of joy now and then rolling over her 
fat black cheeks. 

As the engine puffed into the station 
the Waldrons’ carriage drove up, and out 
jumped Sally and Paul. But the Drurys 
had no time to pay attention to them, for 
there was the doctor, hale and hearty and 
smiling, helping out Cousin Helen, who 
looked like a beautiful, delicate j)ink 
rose ; and then a small black girl who 
was unmistakably Topsy, with a jubilant 
golden-haired baby clasping her neck. 

With a wild and delighted cry, Polly 
sprang into Katrine’s arms, and was car- 
ried to Middy, while there were kissing 
and hand-shaking and laughter among 
the others. 

Mammy’s big arms enveloped Topsy 
in a long and enormous hug, while tears 


TWO SUEPRISES 


145 


rained on the little darky’s tightly curled 
wool. Suddenly recollecting herself, she 
took her erring daughter by the shoulders 
and shook her sharply. 

Yo’ li’r no ’count nigger — whar yo’ 
been ? What yo’ mean by runnin’ away 
f om yo’ ole Mammy an’ disgracin’ the 
fambly? Jes’ wait till Mammy gets yo’ 
home ! Whar yo’ been an’ what yo’ been 
a-doin’ ? ” 

Topsy looked thin — and pale for her 
— but she was the same old Topsy. After 
she had received Mammy’s caresses, and 
hugged and kissed her in return, she said 
she had been seein’ de worF.” 

Yo’ is a monst’ous trabeled IFF nig- 
ger,” said Mammy proudly, her face re- 
laxing into a smile. What yo’ done 
t’ink ob Indiany ? ” 

But what Topsy thought of Indiana 
and her trip is a topic of conversation for 
the rest of her life, and not to be told in 
two minutes. Her little black hand was 
almost shaken off when the Drurys and 
Waldrons finished saying how glad they 
were to see her back again, and an ad- 


146 JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


miring group gathered about her to hear 
how she reached Indiana. 

^^^Twus after I done killed Polly/' 
commenced Topsy in an awed voice. “ I 
jes’ cud feel de hangman’s rope cornin’ 
after me, an’ I done run — faster nor Mas’r 
Jack — an’ I seen suthin’ in front, an’ I 
jump in wid my eyes tight shut an’ crawl 
inter a corner ; an’ I done keep my eyes 
tight shet ’cose ef dey was open I see de 
hangman cornin’ ! ” 

^^Well — what next?” asked Ben, as 
Topsy hesitated. 

I done have de highstrikes, I reck’n, 
Marse Ben ; an’ w’en dey’s ober I want 
sumpin’ ter eat mighty bad, an’ I opens 
one eye a teenty bit and looks around ; 
it’s mos’ly dark, an’ a big room filled 
with bags ob sumpin’ ; an’ den I knows 
de hangman’s kotch me an’ put me in 
prisun; an’ de prisun was rockin’ like a 
boat, an’ a-boomin’ an’ a-sizzlin’ an’ a- 
snortin’ ” 

The freight-car ! ” exclaimed Ben. 

’Twas de queerest jail yo’ eber seed, 
Marse Ben,” continued Topsy gravely. 


TWO SUKPKISES 


147 


an’ I done wonder ef dey gives li’F nig- 
gers onyt’ing ter eat ; an’ I listens fur de 
janglin’ ob de keys w’en dey comes ter 
bring de supper. But I only hears a soun’ 
like I done tole Polly afore she was kilt — 
‘ ketch a nigger, chuck ’im under — ketch 
a nigger, chuck ’im under’ — an’ den I 
knows as how Mammy tole me ef a li’l’ 
nigger did sumpin’ wrong her conse- 
quence ’d keep a-prickin’ ob her.” Top- 
sy paused again. 

And then ? ” they asked in chorus. 

^^Den I reck’n I done had de high- 
strikes again after playin’ I was eatin’ 
eels an’ toas’ an’ strawberries an’ pea- 
nuts. Bat’s all I ’members till one time 
I done open my eyes in de horspittle.” 

‘‘ It was I who found you, Topsy,” 
said Ben proudly. 

I’s much obleeged, Marse Ben, I is,” 
said Topsy, dropping a little courtesy. 

‘AYe’re all of us terribly glad,” cried 
Sally, hopping up and down in her ex- 
citement. Now’s the time, Paul,” she 
added in a whisper, nudging his elbow, 
whereupon he pulled an envelope out of 


148 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


his pocket and handed it solemnly to 
Ben. 

Ben looked at it with a puzzled air, 
and then opened it. Out fell a little pink 
slip of paper, and a white slip on which 
was written ^CReward for finding Topsy 
Pink.’’ 

The pink slip was a check for five 
hundred dollars. 

Then there was laughing and ex- 
claiming and congratulating, you may be 
sure ; and explaining how Ben had really 
found Topsy on Christmas eve. There 
was so much noise that the doctor hur- 
ried from the baggage-room to see what 
was the matter. 

I done earned fibe hunderd dollars 
fo’ de comp’ny,” explained Topsy in an 
awestruck manner. 

It seems to me you’re making a 
great deal of fuss over Topsy,” said the 
doctor gruffly, leading the way across 
the platform to the carriage, and not a 
bit over me. I told you I’d pay you 
back. Miss Katrine, and get another 
cook when you would look so solemn 


TWO SUKPRISES 149 

the day we left — and IVe gone and 
done it ! 

Howls of laughter greeted this speech, 
and “ Who — what — where is she ? 
asked everybody. 

don’t see her — I don’t believe it. 
Did he, Spinner ? ” asked Katrine. 

Cousin Helen laughed and blushed, 
and as she hesitated the doctor answered 
for her. 

Come, right about face for home, or 
we’ll all be invalids again,’^ he called. 
^WYell, if you don’t believe me, just you 
wait and see.’^ To every one’s amazement 
he turned and took Cousin Helen’s hand, 
then making a profound bow to every- 
body : Ladies and gentlemen, allow me 
to present to you the future Mrs. McKin- 
ney, who has supplanted ” 

A murmur, a buzz, and then a roar 
of delight interrupted him, in which he 
made more noise than all of the others, 
tossing up his hat in the air like any 
schoolboy and proposing three cheers for 
everybody, especially for the lady whom 
he said would turn from Miss Spinner to 


150 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 

Mrs. Cooker, and cook up delight for 
everybody. The cheers were given with 
a will by everybody, and Polly, sitting 
in Middy’s lap, clapped her hands de- 
lightedly and cried ; 

^^’Ook at Powy’s funny tousin-doc- 
tor ! ” 






Topsy had been back in the “ Nest ” for a day. 


CHAPTER XV 


A SECRET 

T T THEN I wuz in Indiany,” said 
YY Topsy solemnly, as she wrung 
out the dish-towels and hung 
them up to dry, ^^dey wuz a nangel 
dere/^ 

She had only been back in the ^^Nest^' 
for a day, and she was still a little sub- 
dued. Mrs. Drury and Mrs. Waldron had 
insisted that Mammy should take Topsy 
home with her for a week before she 
started in again at her duties in the 
Nest,^^ but Mammy had sturdily refused. 

Dat ar liT nigger gal gwine play no 
moV^ she declared. ^^Dey^s ben ^nuff 
trubble fur Mis^ Lucy an^ Mis^ Katrine, 
an’ ez fer Topsy, she ain’ neber been sick ; 
she’s jes’ perwarycatin’.” She said she 
would not now believe a word about 
Topsy being in the hospital. So Topsy 

151 


152 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


had spent one night with Mammy — Sally 
afterward told Katrine that they had 
talked all night — and then had gone back 
to the Nest and to work. 

Yessum, a white nangel/^ Topsy con- 
tinued solemnly at Katrine’s look of unbe- 
lief. ^^She didn’t hab no wings, but ef 
she had she’d jest er flew ter de sky an’ 
neber come down no mo’.” 

Katrine laughed. ^‘If you want me 
to believe any more of your wonder- 
ful tales, Topsy, you 
will have to prove 
them,” she said. 

Dat I kin. Mis’ 
’Trine. W’en Mis’ 
Nangel she come 
roun’ ter see me I 
dasn’t open my 
eyes, but I done 
peek froo at her a 
teenty bit, ’cause ef 
a li’l’ black nigger like me done look at 
a nangel she gwine fade away. An’ ez 
yo’ know. Mis’ Kat — ’Trine, I mean — ef 
yo’ opens yo’ eyes too wide den all de 



A SECRET 


153 


badness done show troo fer slio’. She 
tell me doan be feared, an^ she call me 
po^ liT gal widout any mammy. Den 
when I gits better she done tole me she’d 
fine out whar I come from, and de doc- 
tor he say her name’s Miss Sylvia Nangel, 
an’ den he squeeze her han’. She done 
gib me dis yere,” and Topsy displayed a 
tiny silver piece on a string, which, sure 
enough, was polished and marked S. A.” 
^^She say dis yere’s a charm when I 
done scream an’ holler ’cause de ha’nts 
gwine git me.” 

The ha’nts will come fly away with 
you some day,” said Ben teasingly, as he 
passed through the kitchen. Whew ! 
what’s this coming ? ” 

The three crowded to the little win- 
dow, and beheld a large covered wagon, 
filled with odd-looking boxes of all sorts 
and descriptions, with Dr. McKinney 
seated beside the driver, and looking like 
the happiest man on earth. 

What under the sun ! ” cried Ka- 
trine. ^^Oh, it’s wedding things, per- 
haps. Do you suppose he and Spinner 
11 


154 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


are going to be married right away? 
IVe asked them both, but Spinner only 
blushes, and says to ask the doctor, and 
the doctor looks very mysterious, and 
says that a ten years’ engagement is about 
right for young people like them. I’m 
going to ask her this minute,” and she 
ran up-stairs in search of Spinner. 

Cousin Helen was with Mrs. Drury in 
the sitting-room, with a big note-book 
and a pen, and looking as busy as ten 
bees, while Mrs. Drury 
was sewing on some 
white stuff Katrine 
had never seen before. 

0 Spinner,” she 
exclaimed breathless- 
ly, do look out and 
see your doctor man, 
and then tell me, 
please, if it really 

means ? ” 

Spinner laughed heartily when she saw 
the doctor, and he looked up and made a 
most exaggerated bow to the trio in the 
window, and kissed his hand to them. 



A SECEET 


155 


He isn’t old enough for you to marry, 
Spinner, dear,” said Katrine. Not that 
you are a bit old,” she hastened to add, 
but that he is so young. Why, he ought 
to be in kilts yet — he needs as much look- 
ing after as a baby.” 

You’ll have to help me take care 
of him and keep him in order,” said 
Cousin Helen, putting her arm affection- 
ately about Katrine and kissing her. 
^^And you’ll have a chance very soon, 
for ” 

0 Spinner, are you going to be mar- 
ried soon ? Do tell me when ! ” 

^^Well, it is not to be a very great 
wedding,” answered Spinner, but we are 
to be quietly married at the church by 
Mr. Manning just ten days from to-day.” 

How perfectly lovely ! ” cried Ka- 
trine, throwing her arms about Cousin 
Helen’s neck and giving her a tremendous 
hug. It is so nice to have you marry 
the doctor. Spinner, because everything 
will be just the same, and Mrs. McKinney 
won’t mind my running in there and or- 
dering him around, will you ? Just sup- 


156 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


pose he had taken Miss Housten, for in- 
stance. She’s very nice — but if I should 
run over there she would say ; ^ What do 
you wish, little girl ? Oh, no, the doctor 
can not see you ; he is engaged with 
some medical statistics which require his 
undivided attention.’ And just as like 
as not he’d be skylarking down in the 
kitchen, trying to find the raisins — only 
she wouldn’t let on. I advise you to 
hide the raisins and molasses and brown 
sugar. Spinner. What are you going to 
wear, and what are we going to wear, 
and how is it all to be done, and who’s to 

be invited, and where ” 

Let us settle one question at a time,” 
laughed Spinner. And then began a long 
consultation, in which Katrine took a 
very active part. When it was finished, 
a very important member of the firm ran 
down-stairs to tell the others that Spinner 
was to wear her mother’s beautiful wed- 
ding-dress of white satin, that Polly was 
to be the flower-girl, and that Sally Wal- 
dron was to be asked that afternoon to 
be a bridesmaid with Katrine ; that Ka- 


A SECKET 


157 


trine was to have a new white dress for 
the occasion made of some beautiful fluffy 
stufi* Cousin Helen had put away when 
her sister died a year before; and that 
Jack and Ben, and even Charlie, were to 
be ushers, and Paul was asked to help. 
As for the maid of honor. Cousin Helen 
thought it too short notice to ask any of 
her friends from her Southern home, and 
that, at any rate, they would be too busy 
with their own entertainments at that 
time of the year, so she wrote some sweet 
letters telling them she was to be married 
quietly, and decided to ask Miss Madge 
Winters, who had been such a very good 
friend to the family, and who was such a 
sweet little woman. 

Of course, when the doctor heard all 
the plans, he insisted that if Spinner did 
not ask her Southern friends he would 
not send for his college chums, and so he 
arranged to have the boys for ushers — 
much to Mr. Manning’s amusement, for 
he knew that the doctor would have pre- 
ferred to have girls — and for best man he 
asked Mr. Kendrick Munn, whom he had 


158 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


known for a long while, and who, with 
Mrs. Winters and her daughter, they had 
all grown to like so well. 

The children all regretted that they 
were not in the Rockery, in order that 
Spinner might have a wedding better 
suited to her, but she declared that the 
wedding would be very jolly, and she 
was just as happy as if she were to re- 
ceive her friends in a castle. There was 
to be a reception, after the marriage at 
the church, and the ^^Nest^^ and Dr. Mc- 
Kinney’s house were to be connected by a 
covered walk. It was all Spinner’s idea, 
and the little fund of money which her 
sister long ago had put aside for ^Oittle 
Helen’s wedding” was taken from the 
bank and made use of. It was a busy 
two weeks for Jack and Company, for 
the entire arrangements were in their 
hands — the decorating of the houses and 
catering for the guests (under Spinner’s 
direction) — for almost every one in Cicero 
was asked to the reception, and also a 
number of people who lived farther out 
in the country. Beside this work, the 


A SECRET 


159 


doctor was making alterations in kis 
house, in which only Katrine and Jack 
were initiated — not even Spinner was to 
hear a word about them till the wed- 
ding-day. And they had a deal of fun 
mixed with the work, joking with the 
doctor while helping him, until he and 
Jack became quite friendly. 

Ben felt rather insulted that he should 
be entirely overlooked in helping the 
doctor settle his house, but he still felt 
his importance in having earned the 
large sum of five hundred dollars for 
finding Topsy. Mrs. Drury refused to 
let him accept the amount at first, but 
Mr. Waldron called upon her one day 
and explained the matter fully. 

It would have been paid to any one 
who happened to find the child,^^ he said. 
^'The matter was started by Paul and 
Sally, who take such great interest in 
your children and in their old Mammy, 
and I know it would be a very great dis- 
appointment to them if you refuse to let 
Ben have the reward. Please reconsider, 
Mrs. Drury 


160 JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


It was a very generous thought of 
theirs,” said Mrs. Drury, “ but it doesn’t 
seem as if Ben had any right to the 
money, and I am sure he did not give 
it a thought when he found the news- 
paper notice.” 

‘^1 believe he did not,” replied Mr. 
Waldron. I shall be sorry indeed to 
tell Paul and Sally that their plan to ease 
a mother’s aching heart, and to restore 
the little nurse to your baby, of whom 
they are so fond, has failed. It will be a 
severe blow to them, for the fact that 
Ben was to have the reward has trebled 
the pleasure they felt in having the little 
darky found — though not found in conse- 
quence of the reward.” 

At last Mrs. Drury consented to let 
Ben keep the money, and, at Mr. Wal- 
dron’s suggestion, to make his own plans 
for its disposition. 

Ben was delighted, and in answer to 
Sally’s inquiry as to just what he should 
do with it, he said he had a plan ” that 
he would tell her about shortly. That 
evening he made a very long call in se- 


A SECRET 


161 


cret on Mr. Manning, and when he re- 
turned he found that all except Jack, 
who was studying by the dining-room 
lamp, had gone to bed. 

Time small boys wxre in bed,^^ said 
Jack. Where have you been? Mid- 
dy’s been worrying about your not being 
in before.” 

Eve been on business,” laughed Ben 
merrily, and then he disappeared up-stairs 
to see Middy. 

“You are late, my son,” said Middy, 
as Ben sat on the side of the bed in the 
dark and put his face down to be kissed. 
“What kept you 
so long ? ” 

“I was talking 
to Mr. Manning, 

Middy,” said Ben, 

“ and asking him a 
lot of questions.” 

“And has my 
son thought of what he wdll do with his 
money ? ” 

“Yes,” said Ben slowly. “Will you 
keep a secret till to-morrow. Middy? 



162 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


Then I’ll tell you/^ and there followed 
a long whispered conversation so that 
Cousin Helen should not hear, and — 

You are mother’s brave man,’^ said 
Mrs. Drury as she kissed Ben again be- 
fore he left the room ; and that paid Ben 
for any sacrifice he might make. 


CHAPTER XVI 


jack’s chance 

T he next morning at breakfast Ben 
was missing, and Jack said he was 
up early before Tie was awake. 
^‘Marse Ben, he done light out long 
about seben,” explained Topsy. ^^Said 
he hab an erran’ to do fo’ de ole Jedge an’ 
he wouldn’ be back fo’ long time — said 
de coachman wuz sick an’ de Jedge want- 
ed him to dribe Mis’ Jedge to Beverly 
fo’ some shoppin’. Dis yere paper he 
done lef’ fo’ Marse Jack.” 

Wonder what the kid’s up to,” said 
Jack, opening the little note. It’ll be 
fun to drive to Beverly to-day. Did he 
take the check to deposit in the bank. 
Middy?” 

^^Yes,” answered his mother. ^^I 
told him to do it when he said last night 
that he had to be out at the Judge’s by 

163 


164 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


eight to-day to go with Mrs. Scranton to 
Beverly. He said he wanted to do it all 
by himself, and I think he is safe with it. 
Mrs. Scranton will help him if necessary 
^^What does the note say?^^ asked 
Charlie between his spoonsful of oatmeal. 

Let Powy see ! cried the little 
owner of that name, deftly slipping down 
from her high chair and running around 
to climb into Jack’s lap. What’s de 
masser wif my Dackie ? ” she cried in a 
minute, throwing both arms about his 
neck. Dear Dackie, Powy ’oves ’oo.” 

Jack had opened and read the note, 
and his face was a study. He was so 
very quiet for a minute that Cousin 
Helen and Katrine thought something 
dreadful had happened, but Middy was 
quietly smiling. Jack looked at her. 

^^Did you know about it. Middy?” 
he asked. ^Hsn’t there some mistake — 
is Ben in earnest ? ” 

^^Yes, dear, he is thoroughly in ear- 
nest, and it is his own thought. What 
does the note say ? ” 

Jack handed it to his mother — the 


JACK’S CHANCE 


165 


first note Ben had ever written him — and 
she read aloud : 

“Dear old Jack: You can go to col- 
lege with the prize money I got for find- 
ing Topsy — I'm going to put it in the 
bank for you to-day. Mr. Manning says 
you can pass the exams, this spring, and 
perhaps he can get a scholarship for you. 
Katrine and I can run the business all 
right. Your loving brother, Ben." 

“How perfectly cried Katrine, 
clapping her hands delightedly, while 
Charlie, taking advantage of a good time 
to make a noise, stood up in his chair, 
waved his napkin and spoon in the air, 
with ear-splitting shrieks of “ Hurrah ! " 
Middy put her hands over her ears to 
keep the noise out, and Cousin Helen 
laughed at Jack's perplexed look. When 
Charlie had been induced to subside. Mid- 
dy explained. 

“It was his own thought entirely, 
and he has been talking it over with Mr. 
Manning. Ben's idea is that if we have 
the five hundred dollars to help us out 


166 JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


while you’re away, and to help you get a 
start, you can earn your way through.” 

Couldn’t I just ! ” exclaimed Jack, 
carrying Polly back and depositing her 
in the high chair. Ben’s a brick. Mid- 
dy, but I can’t do it.” 

It is a noble offer,” smiled Spinner. 

Why can’t you accept it. Jack ? ” 

Because I can’t leave Middy,” said 
Jack, ^^and because if any one goes to 
college it ought to be saved for Ben.” 

^^Ben will not be ready to go for 
some years yet,” said Middy, and as 
for leaving me ” 

I’ll take care of her,” cried Katrine 
and Charlie in one breath. 

We’ll all take the best care of her,” 
said Cousin Helen. She is so well now 
that I am sure she will be entirely strong 
and well by next summer ; and the doc- 
tor and I will be here all the time.” 

But it seems mean for me to go off 
and enjoy myself and leave you all at 
home to work,” objected Jack. ^^No, I 
can’t do it.” 

Don’t be silly,” said Katrine. If 


JACK’S CHANCE 


167 


I knew enough I’d go in a minute — if I 
had a chance/^ 

Yes, dear, I think it will be best for 
you to take advantage of the chance; 
we will be able to get along very com- 
fortably, though we will miss our big 
brother even more than we realize now. 
I want my children all to have the very 
best education possible, and we will hope 
that a way will open for Katrine very 
soon, and the others as the time comes.^’ 

Bravo ! cried Spinner. That is 
the way to look at it, boys and girls. I 
propose three cheers for our noble secre- 
tary and his mother.” 

And they were given with a will, 
after which Jack was persuaded that his 
mother’s advice was the best; and he 
went off to work at the doctor’s with a 
very light heart, and such very pleasant 
prospects before him, that it is a wonder 
he managed to keep his mind on his 
work. 

It didn’t take long for this piece of 
good news to travel. Of course. Dr. Mc- 
Kinney heard it from Spinner and Polly, 


168 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


who were always at the door to meet 
him when he stopped at the ^^Nest^^ each 
morning as he started on his rounds ; and 
he met Paul on horseback on the road, 
and Paul, delighted with the news, turned 
around to go right back to tell Sally 
about it. 

Meanwhile Ben, who had walked 
through the snow to the Judge’s house, 
had started off with Mrs. Scranton in 
the sleigh toward Beverly. Under most 
circumstances, this would have been an 
eagerly sought for piece of work and 
pleasure combined, for the snow had 
fallen heavily and steadily until the 
sleighing Tvas perfect, and the Judge’s 
little horse, Bobbety, was full of fun, and 
had had so little exercise lately that she 
was glad to get out of the stable for a 
run. Mrs. Scranton had expected that 
Jack would come to drive her over — he 
had always done so when occasion re- 
quired — and she did not feel safe with 
Ben at the end of the reins. But the old 
Judge cried ^‘Pooh-pooh!” very loud in- 
deed, and said he knew Ben was a careful 


JACK’S CHANCE 


169 


driver ; so off they started. Mrs. Scran- 
ton was very nervous, and poor Ben spent 
a very uncomfortable hour on the way to 
Beverly. If he hadn’t had his conscience 
stowed away in his pocket with that 
precious check to remind him of his duty, 
I am very much afraid there might have 
been an accident on purpose, which would 
have overturned the sleigh and given Mrs. 
Scranton cause for her worry. Ben was 
apt to forget his manners on occasions of 
this kind; he couldn’t see any good in 
worrying before things happened, in which 
way he resembled Spinner, though she 
did not believe in worrying afterward 
either. 

Beverly was reached at last, however, 
and Mrs. Scranton sighed with relief. 
Ben really was a very good horseman for 
his age, but she did not know that. She 
went to the bank with him and intro- 
duced him to the cashier, and then, leav- 
ing him to transact his business alone, she 
did her shopping. 

It was very hard for Ben to think of 
parting wdth that check. He had come 

13 


170 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


to look upon it as a companion and friend, 
and now that he had practically given it 
to Jack, a great feeling of lonesomeness 
overcame him, together with an intense 
desire to really have 
in his hands the money 
the check represented. 
So, without any more 
thought about it — 
Ben seldom wasted 
much time in think- 
ing — he told the cash- 
ier he wanted the 
check cashed. As 
Mrs. Scranton had in- 
troduced the boy, and as he had heard of 
the reward offered at Cicero, the cashier 
did not question Ben, but asked him how 
he wanted it. Ben said, ^^Oh, in big 
bills,^’ in an offhand way, as if he were 
in the habit of handling hundred-dollar 
bills every day, and the cashier handed 
him out five crisp one-hundred-dollar 
bills. Ben put them safe in an old wal- 
let of his father’s he carried full of treas- 
ures. Weren't they beautiful ? Each one 



JACK’S CHANCE 


171 


a hundred dollars ! He had never seen 
anything larger than a ten-dollar bill be- 
fore. Then, politely thanking the cashier 
for his trouble and his advice to button 
your coat and keep an eye on it,’’ Ben 
left the bank. 

Now, Ben’s motive was simply to have 
the pleasure of handling the money. He 
expected to go back to the bank later 
and ask the cashier to let him open an 
account and deposit the bills ; but, alas ! 
he forgot that the bank closed its doors 
tightly at two o’clock, and when at half- 
past two he went back there was no get- 
ting in. 

Hope there wasn’t any tramp look- 
ing through the door when I got the bills,” 
thought Ben. ^^I’ll have to take ’em 
home, and bring ’em back to-morrow, 
somehow.” 

Mrs. Scranton was more easy in her 
mind on the way home, and the drive was 
very pleasant for Ben, who immediately 
forgot that he had five hundred dollars 
in his coat pocket. 

Benny, you’re a trump from Way- 


172 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


back/^ was Jack’s greeting when Ben got 
back at five. And I’ll go to college if 
I can pass the exams., and I will earn 
enough money to send you through in 
style when the time comes,” and Jack put 
his arm around Ben’s neck and kissed him 
aflPectionately. That almost paid again 
for the sacrifice, for, to Ben, Jack was a 
very big boy, and greatly to be admired 
and respected. 


CHAPTER XVII 


AN ADVENTURE 

P OLLY always kissed the family 
awake. First she would crawd out 
of her own little trundle-bed into 
Katrine’s, when she would kiss each eye 
open with such sweetness that not even 
the sleepiest of mortals could be cross 
with her ; and then, after the w^arm wrap- 
per w^as buttoned over the little night- 
drawers and the warm red slippers on 
over her canton flannel covered feet, she 
would dance around the family and kiss 
them all so wide awake that they couldn’t 
go to sleep again. She had hard work 
with Ben and Jack sometimes, for some- 
how the boys could go to sleep when she 
thought they were wide awake. This 
morning Ben was very refractory — she 
thought he was awake when she came 
into the room; he was tossing uneasily 

173 


174 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


and muttering in his sleep. But after 
many loving pats and caresses he really 
opened his eyes and seemed to under- 
stand it was time to get up, so with a 
parting admonition to Det up, ^oo boys, 
tause Powy ^oves ^oo,^^ she slipped down 
from the bed. 

Ben had not passed a very comfort- 
able night. In fact he had been pursued 
by a nightmare. He was trying to buy 
Topsy with a five hundred dollar check 
when it suddenly changed into five one 
hundred dollar bills in the shape of men 
with ugly green faces and big clubs in 
their hands, who told him they w^ere 
bank detectives and had come to take 
him to jail. In vain he tried to explain 
that the money was his. They replied, 
^^You gave it to Jack,’’ and then they 
raised their clubs and started after him 
again. So it was a relief when he really 
opened his eyes to find he was in his own 
room, and that Jack and Charlie were 
yawning themselves awake too. The 
precious wallet was on the chair with his 
coat, and not daring to look at the prized 


AN ADVENTUKE 


175 


bills while Jack and Charlie were there, 
Ben put the wallet carefully in his drawer, 
locked it, and putting the key in his 
pocket, he drew on his clothes, heaving 
several sighs of relief. 

It looked as if no opportunity would 
come for him to go to Beverly. How- 
ever, by good luck it chanced that Miss 
Prim wanted to send a package to a Mrs. 
Small, who lived about half-way to Bev- 
erly; and Ben, who received the order, 
did not mention it to Jack for fear he 
would be directed to stay at home. In- 
stead, he started off, before dinner, with 
Miss Prim’s package under his arm and 
the wallet tightly buttoned up inside his 
coat. If was a bitter cold walk through 
the snow, and had it not been well packed 
in the roads, Ben would have found it an 
almost impossible journey. He reached 
Mrs. Small’s house, delivered the pack- 
age, and was quite glad to thaw out a 
little by the fire and to eat some buns 
which Mrs. Small offered him, having 
once had boys of her own and knowing 
that they are always ready to eat. 


176 JACKS OF ALL TEADES 


Then he made another start, and as 
the distance to Beverly shortened he grew 
more light-hearted and began to whistle. 
It was cold, and he wished he had the 
little horse he had driven yesterday. A 
crunching sound on the snow behind him 
told him of a horse and wagon coming, 
and Ben, without more ado, stepped to 
one side of the road and shouted : I say, 
will you give me a ride ? 

Whoup ! called the driver, a burly 
colored man, to his bag-o^bones horse. 
As Ben climbed in he saw a bundle of 
old clothes in the back of the wagon, 
in the middle of which was huddled 
what was apparently a little colored 
girl. 

CoF day,^^ said the man to Ben, and 
then to the horse, Gtchee — gtchee ! and 
they rattled and crunched along. 

Going to Beverly ? asked Ben. 

‘^Yes — done goiid farder,^^ said the 
man, eying Ben carefully. I’ll take yo’ 
to Bev’ly fur ten cents.” 

I haven’t got any money,” said Ben. 

If you want to be paid for the ride just 


AN ADVENTURE 177 

stop now and let me get out — or here’s a 
bun to pay you.” 

The man took the bun and ate it, the 
hungry eyes of the girl in the back of the 
wagon devouring every bite with him. 

^^Say — p’raps yo’ is de young fellar 
dat got de reward fur findin’ de cullud 
gal dat I read of,” said the man. 

Ben, though generally afraid of noth- 
ing, began to tremble a little when he 
thought of the money in the wallet ; he 
did not like the look of the man at all. 

Ain’t yo’ Ben Dewery ? ” asked the 
man, not waiting for an answer to his 
first question. 

don’t see that it’s any of your 
business who I am,” said Ben, squaring 
his shoulders. 

No Tense, sah,” said the man, show- 
ing his teeth in a disagreeable smile. 

What’s dat buttoned inside yo’ coat ? ” 

^‘Nothing,” said Ben shortly. The 
man reached out and touched Ben’s coat 
where he could feel the edges of the 
wallet. 

^^Hit feels like er pocketbook,” he 


178 JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


said. ^^What yo’ kerry a pocketbook 
widout no money fur ? 

It’s none of your business/’ said Ben 
curtly, beginning to be quite frightened. 
think it’s warmer to walk,” and he grabbed 
the lines to make the horse stop. But the 
man was too quick for him, and caught 
him by the coat collar before he could 
jump. 

Ben hit out wildly with both fists, but 
he might as well have tried to move an 
elephant. The man held him fast, and 
calling to the girl to hold the reins, he 
swung Ben over the seat into the back of 
the wagon, and climbed over himself. 

They had entered a lonely stretch of 
woods, and Ben knew it was useless to 
call for help. He did call, however ; but, 
after a quick glance around, the man 
laughed and told him to call louder. 

Now let’s see what’s in yo’ pocket,’^ 
demanded the darky, trying to unbutton 
Ben’s coat. 

Don’t you dare lay hands on me, 
you old black rufi&an ! ” screamed Ben ; 
but it was of no use to struggle, for with 


AN ADVENTURE 


179 


one motion of his hand the man had un- 
buttoned the coat, and there was the big 
wallet in sight. 

Ben kicked and 
fought, but he 
was like a mos- 
quito in the 
hands of a giant. 

The man’s eyes 
glistened as he 
reached for the 
wallet. 

With a super- 
human effort Ben wrenched himself free 
from the darky’s hold, and, with a fly- 
ing leap into the air, jumped from the 
bouncing wagon into a snow-drift, wallet 
and all. 

The jump was a violent one, but the 
bank of snow was as soft as feathers. In 
a minute Ben had leaped out into the 
road, to take to his heels, with his pre- 
cious wallet safe, when, to his great hor- 
ror, he saw the man picking himself out 
of a similar drift thirty feet away. Ben 
was away like a bird, back on the road 



180 JACKS OF ALL TEADES 


toward friendly Mrs. SmalFs house; but 
so was the man, shouting to him to stop, 
threatening to shoot, and calling him a 
dozen vile names. 

The threat of shooting didn’t alarm 
Ben, for he knew it was probably an idle 
one — as it proved to be; but the man 
was gaining upon him. It was almost 
impossible to make good time running 
with rubber boots on — he couldn’t kick 
them off because he had no shoes inside 
— and the man was not fettered by boots. 
And the long coat got in Ben’s way, though 
he held it up on each side, as Spinner 
did her dress in crossing a muddy road. 
It was the first time he had ever felt so 
helpless, and as he ran on he had thoughts 
of sympathy for girls in their skirts. He 
didn’t dare stop to throw the coat off, and 
he would freeze without it, too. He could 
almost feel the man’s breath. What was 
there to do ? He did feel his breath ! 

With a catlike spring Ben dodged to 
one side, and whipping the wallet out of 
his pocket, dropped it endwise in a soft 
snow-bank at the side of the road before 


• V. f 


V 







0 




“ Come on, uncle ! ” he called tauntingly. 


AN ADVENTURE 


181 


the man could turn, marking the spot by 
the oak-tree at its side. Then, as the 
man turned, he dodged again, passed him, 
and ran on. 

With the wallet safe in the snow-bank, 
Ben felt a load of responsibility off his 
mind, and began to enjoy the game. 

Come on, uncle ! ” he called back, 
tauntingly. Hurry up your cakes or 
you won’t catch me! Come on, Br’er 
Johnsing, stir your stumps a little I Good 
exercise on a cold day! You’re as slow 
as cold molas ” 

And just then a heavy hand was laid 
on his collar and he was lifted clear off 
his feet. 

Gimme de money ! ” hissed the man 
in his ear. 

Ben laughed triumphantly, though his 
teeth chattered. 

I told you I hadn’t any, you thief! ” 
he answered, when the man stopped shak- 
ing him. 

Whar’s de pocketbook ? ” demanded 
the man, searching Ben’s pockets. 

Ben laughed again. dropped it in 


182 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


a snow-bank on the wslj ,” he replied, 
slowly and truthfully, ^^and you’re wel- 
come to look for it.” He thought that a 
safe answer, as they had passed hundreds 
of drifts. 

It took only a minute for the man to 
see Ben’s meaning, and a look of fiendish 
rage passed over his face. 

^^Yo’ white nigger!” he shouted, 
take that — an’ that ! ” and he hit Ben 
squarely on the head, and again in the 
face, sending him reeling to the ground. 
The tinkling of sleigh-bells, which they 
both might have heard a minute or two 
before had there been a chance to listen, 
was now apparently close at hand, and as 
Ben was knocked to the ground a sleigh 
made its appearance in the road ahead, 
and the driver, seeing his plight, whipped 
up his horses. The colored man took to 
his heels, back toward Beverly, and Ben, 
stunned and bleeding, was prostrate in 
the road. 

The man jumped from the sleigh 
quickly and lifted him. 

^^Are you much hurt, my lad?” he 


AN ADVENTURE 


183 


asked. Here, take a drink of this/^ 
and he poured some brandy from a flask 
into Ben’s mouth. The stuff burned as 
he swallowed, but he did as he was bid, 
and in a minute more he was able to 
stand by himself. 

The colored man was by this time out 
of sight around the curves in the road, 
and in a few excited words Ben told the 
newcomer the principal points in the 
adventure. 

^‘Then he did not rob you?” asked 
the owner of the sleigh, helping Ben in. 

No, sir,” answered Ben. I dropped 
the wallet — it was a big one my father 
used to have — in a snow-bank when I 
saw he had to catch me — and he did not 
see it. I am sure it is all safe, and I 
must dig it out and go to Beverly at 
once.” 

What is your name ? ” asked his 
rescuer. Where are you from, and 
how did you happen to have so much 
money ? ” 

Benjamin Drury,” responded Benny. 

And Fm ” 


184 JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


you’re one of the Drury boys, 
are you ? I’ve heard my daughter speak 
of you, and I used to know your father. 
Why, you’re the boy who earned the 
reward for finding the little colored girl 
who strayed away, aren’t you ? I’m Pru- 
dence Dean’s father.” 

Yes, Mr. Dean,” replied Ben, ^^and 
the five hundred dollars is in that pocket- 
book.” 

Mr. Dean whistled. ^^Well, you’re a 
clever young man to outwit a thief in 
that way,” he said. ^^We will start at 
once to find the man and the wallet.” 

Mr. Dean tucked weary Ben comfort- 
ably in the rugs, and drove on. After a 
few minutes they concluded that one was 
as easy to find as the other. The man, girl, 
horse, and wagon had disappeared, mak- 
ing double-quick time into town, judging 
from the tracks; and as for the wallet — 
there were hundreds of snow-drifts, and 
hundreds with oak-trees beside them. 

Mr. Dean was kindness itself in help- 
ing Ben search through the drifts — ^far 
kinder, Ben thought, than he deserved. 


AN ADVENTUEE 


185 


is too late for the bank now/^ 
said Mr. Dean, after a time of fruitless 
search. “ If you find it you must come 
home with me and I will keep it safe and 
deposit it for you in the morning.^^ 

Drift after drift they searched, kick- 
ing the snow right and left and brushing 
it with branches, till both were worn 
out and stiff with the cold, but no wallet 
appeared. 

It is unsafe for you to stay here any 
longer,’^ said Mr. Dean presently, ‘^with 
such a blow as the scoundrel gave you. 
Jump in, my boy, and I will come back 
with some men and shovels to find it.^^ 
Ben hated to give up, but his strength 
was leaving him. One more drift and 
then he would go. It wasn’t much use, 
for the drift was smooth and undisturbed, 
and Mr. Dean said it was useless to keep 
on. But the first touch of the branch 
dislodged the top of the pile, and discov- 
ered the edge of the wallet peeping out. 

Hip — hip — hurrah ! cried Ben, turn- 
ing to Mr. Dean with the gladdest kind 
of a look in his eyes. Then they both 

13 


186 JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


jumped in the sleigh and drove toward 
Beverly. 

You would best give me the money, 
Ben/^ said Mr. Dean, ^^and I will see 
that it is safe in the bank the first thing 
in the morning. No — don’t give me the 
wallet — I’ll put the bills right in mine.” 

So Ben took the elastic carefully from 
the wallet and opened it — ’t was empty 
except for a few old papers ! 

Where could the money have gone? 
A few scalding tears would come into his 
eyes, and in a minute he was crying like 
any baby, his head on Mr. Dean’s arm. 


CHAPTER XVIII 


THE WEDDING 

B en told Mr. Dean the whole story — 
how he had yielded to his desire 
to handle the bills and had placed 
them in the wallet, and returned too late 
to get them in the bank ; how they had 
never left his pocket except to be locked 
in the bureau when he was out ; and that 
no one knew he had them except the 
cashier at the bank. 

And I cavbt tell Middy — and Jack ! 
sobbed Ben hysterically, for it was very 
wicked and careless of me to have the 
bills, and — and — I donT know what to 
do!^^ 

^^It was very careless — there ^s no 
denying it,^^ assented Mr. Dean as he 
patted Ben^s shoulder comfortingly. 
^^But cheer up — weJl find it yet. Just 
let me manage it, my boy. I’m going 

187 


188 JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


to take you right to my house, where 
Mrs. Dean will rest you up a bit, and 111 
send out to stop that man. Are you 
mre everything happened just as you 
say ? 

^^Sure — sure^s Fm here,^^ replied Ben 
stoutly. 

‘^Then later Fll drive you home and 
you can make a thorough search .through 
that drawer of yours, and let me know 
about it. And I don^t believe it will be 
necessary for you to say anything about 
the loss yet ; it would spoil half the joy 
of the wedding, as you say.^^ 

So Ben went home with Mr. Dean, to 
be made much of by Mrs. Dean and Prue, 
Bob and Frank being away. Mr. Dean 
told his wife the story, adding that he 
thought probably Ben was so frightened 
he did not remember exactly what hap- 
pened ; and then started on a search for 
the colored man, who had driven rapidly 
through the town some time before. 

The wedding-day was a beautiful, 
bright sunshiny Wednesday — the doctor 


THE WEDDING 


189 


declared that Spinner spun the sunbeams 
on purpose. 

almost afraid to marry such a 
very wonderful little woman/^ laughed 
he, early that morning, when he came 
over — to see Polly, he always said, 
which made Spinner laugh. It seems 
as if she might be entirely a fairy, and 
that if I should ever even turn a hair the 
wrong way she might disappear and take 
the sunshine along with her. Glorious 
day, eh, Katrine ? ” 

Oh, yes, you funny doctor ! ” ex- 
claimed Katrine. ^^The sun is just burst- 
ing — and there you are with an umbrella 
— but I suppose we mustn’t expect much 
of you on your wedding-day,” she added 
with a grown-up air. 

Why not ? ” blinked the doctor. I 
guess there’s just about as much of me as 
usual, and I don’t mind whispering to 
you, right in your ear, that I’m stuffed 
chock full — of joy — and there’s going to 
be more of me later than you ever saw 
before — eh, fairy Spinner ? ” And much 
to the children’s delight the doctor put 


190 JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


his arm around Cousin Helen’s waist, and 
drawing her over to him, kissed her — 
^^once for Middy and five times for the 
children.” Cousin Helen blushed prettily 
and tried to make him stop, for they did 
not usually display their affection before 
others, but he was like a big unmanage- 
able schoolboy, and insisted upon doing 
as he pleased. 

’Oo tan’t tiss Powy’s Spinner,” said 
Polly, screwing up her little mouth and 
pulhng the doctor’s hand away from 
Cousin Helen. Powy wants all tisses.” 

^^And the umbrella,” continued the 
doctor, letting Cousin Helen go, and toss- 
ing Polly to his shoulder, is not for me. 
It is for you, Katrine, to protect yourself 
with this afternoon.” 

^^For mef’^ cried Katrine. ^^Why, 
it can’t possibly rain to-day.” 

You’ll need it at the wedding,” as- 
serted the doctor gravely, his eyes twin- 
kling all the while. I was afraid that 
new frock of yours would be spoiled with 
tears, so bought you the umbrella to pro- 
tect it. Spinner, she’s jealous — jealous as 


THE WEDDING 


191 


an — an owl. I don’t think that quotation 
sounds just right, but it will do.’^ 

Why ? asked Spinner. 

‘‘ Why f ’’ repeated the doctor mock- 
ingly. Why, that is as plain as the nose 
on your face. I’ll whisper it to you ” — 
which he did in a loud stage whisper: 

She wanted me herself! ” 

The very idea ! ” laughed Katrine. 

I wouldn’t want to manage you unless I 
had a very large salary for it.” 

^^Hush!” cried the doctor. ^^You 
may hurt my future wife’s feelings. I’ll 
confide in you, however, Katrine, that I 
had to offer her very high wages before 

she consented to ” 

It’s time you were off,” interrupted 
Cousin Helen, laughing. ^^If you don’t 
stop carrying on I may refuse you 
yet.” 

Horrible, horrible thought I ” cried 
the doctor in mock dismay. Promise 
me, Katrine, that if Miss Spinner here 
fails to turn up at the right moment in 
church, you will take her place. But I 
forgot. My errand is wedding presents,” 


192 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


and he slowly took several packages from 
his pocket. This is to assist your Middy, 
Ben, at the ceremony ; hand it to her. I 
hope it is big enough to dry her tears. 
It was a beautiful lace handkerchief. 

Jack, if you dare let any one be a second 
late at the church. 111 take this watch 
right back.^^ 

^^Oh, doctor!’^ was all the surprised 
Jack could gasp, as he received the cov- 
eted new Tvatch. Thank ’’ 

And, Ben,^^ continued the doctor, not 
waiting to hear the end of Jack’s speech 
of thanks, start right in this minute, and 
write down everything you’ve got to do 
to-day in this diary — and don’t forget to 
do it. And put down in the largest let- 
ters you can make, ^Spinner married to 
ME to-day at five o’clock,’ for we’ll all be 
sure to forget the date right away — eh. 
Spinner ? Here, sir, take this stylographic 
pen to go with it, and don’t, for pity’s 
sake, let your Cousin Spinner mistake the 
book for her prayer-book, and get those 
blank pages in church this afternoon, 
and ” 


THE WEDDING 


193 


As if slie liadnT studied the service, 
word for word, every day the last week,^’ 
interrupted Katrine. 

— and so fail to get properly mar- 
ried,^^ finished the doctor. And the next 
time you want neckties. Sir Charlie, don’t 
swap off your baby sister for a gaudy 
purple one, as I believe you’re in the 
habit of doing, but just press the secret 
spring on this box and say the magic 
words, ‘ Open Sesame ’ — see ? — and pick 
out the kind you want. And, little Polly, 
here’s something for you to love when the 
naughty ^ tousin-doctor ’ runs away with 
your dear Spinner. See, she has beauti- 
ful golden hair, almost like Spinner’s, and 
brown eyes and red cheeks.” Polly clasped 
the new doll in one hand, but still looked 
lovingly at the old rag doll under the 
other arm. ‘^Katrine, here’s a bottle of 
cologne for Topsy, on condition she never 
gets herself lost again — and good-by till 
this afternoon ! ” 

The doctor ran for the door to evade 
the exclamations of thanks that his stream 
of words had prevented. 


194 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


“You’ve left Spinner out, Dr. McKin- 
ney/’ called Charlie. “ AVhere’s hers ? ” 

“ Why, she gets the biggest one of all 
this afternoon,” he called back over his 
shoulder. “ She gets mer 

“ Isn’t he ridiculous ! ” exclaimed Spin- 
ner, and “ Isn’t he splendid ! ” cried the 
others. 

“ He is the most generous man I ever 
saw,” said Middy. “No one but the 
doctor would have thought to reverse 
the usual way of giving wedding pres- 
ents.” 

Spinner was blushing with pleasure, 
“/think he’s a little out of the ordinary,” 
she said. 

The rest of the day was a very busy, 
merry time. The boys, under the direc- 
tion of Mr. Manning and Kendrick Munn, 
finished the dressing of the church which 
they had begun the day before. It looked 
very pretty indeed, with the greens fresh 
from the woods, and sumac and bitter- 
sweet berries, contributed by the neigh- 
bors, to relieve the green. 

Katrine, as well as the boys, had her 


THE WEDDING 


195 


hands full, as did her mother, Cousin 
Helen, and Miss Madge Winters; not to 
mention Topsy, Hester, and Mammy Rose, 
who had been loaned for this occasion. 
Katrine and Hester had entire charge of 
the doctor’s house. Cousin Helen was not 
to be admitted until she came back from 
church as Mrs. McKinney. Katrine called 
the doctor’s house the J^Web,” to dis- 
tinguish it from the Nest.” 

At last everything was ready, the 
houses prettily decorated with greens and 
flowers, and every one was excitedly wait- 
ing for five o’clock to come. Even Ben 
had almost forgotten his troubles ; if the 
family had not been so preoccupied with 
the wedding, they would surely have no- 
ticed how quiet and unlike his usual jolly 
self ‘^Laughing Ben” was. He made up 
his mind he must tell Middy — he couldn’t 
bear it any longer ; but with a great effort 
he restrained himself until the wedding 
should be over. Sally had arrived, dressed 
in her dainty wdiite frock and pink rib- 
bons, her brown curls tied demurely in 
place, and Paul, in his spick and span 


196 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


black suit, with a great white rose in his 
buttonhole ; and they were all gathered 
in the sitting-room, waiting for the bride 
to come down-stairs. It didn’t look a 
bit like the sitting-room, somehow, in all 
its wedding finery. The children felt as 
if they were in a strange place, and every- 
thing was quiet for a time. 

In a few minutes Cousin Helen came 
slowly down the stairs, with Topsy, full 
of importance and clad in a wonderful 
new gown of many colors and a white 
cap, holding the long train. Spinner was 
a very beautiful bride. Her mother’s wed- 
ding-dress fell in folds of softly shining 
satin ; and her long veil, caught back with 
a delicate spray of lilies of the valley, 
framed her sweet rosy face and golden 
hair. She had the doctor’s present, a 
wonderful pin of diamonds and pearls, at 
her throat. Katrine said she was too 
beautiful ; and as for Topsy, she couldn’t 
help making a courtesy every time Cousin 
Helen looked in her direction. 

There was a sad little pause for a min- 
ute after the expressions of admiration 


THE WEDDING 197 

had ceased, until Spinner broke it with a 
laugh. 

‘‘You have all been very good to me, 
my dear friends and cousins,’^ she said, 
with a little quiver in her voice, “ and I 
want to thank you from the bottom of 
my heart. And I want you all to kiss 
Helen Cubberly for the last time.’^ 

The maid of honor, very sweet in a 
pale-pink dress, and Katrine in her white 
with blue ribbons, were trying to per- 
suade little Polly that Jemima Jane could 
not go to the church; it looked as if 
trouble were ahead, for Polly would not 
be separated from her beloved doll, the 
much - begrimed Jemima Jane, whose 
arms, emptied of their stuffing, hung limp 
and loose, and whose face was so dirty it 
was almost impossible to tell whether 
you were looking at it or at the back 
of her head. But Polly loved her with 
a passionate love. 

“ Let Jemima go to church if she will 
be very good,^^ said Cousin Helen, lifting 
Polly, regardless of the beautiful wedding 
gown, and giving her a long loving kiss. 


198 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


And then aside to Topsy and Katrine : 
^^But be sure you take Jemima away 
and give her the basket of flowers in the 
church — she will be so excited then she 
will forget all about the doW’ 

Just as Middy was fixing Cousin Hel- 
en’s veil, an engine whistled and pulled 
into the station, and a jolly party of six or 
eight people got off* the train. On asking 
if they could get carriages, they were 
told by the station agent that every 
carriage for miles around is bein’ used 
at the doc’s weddin’.” 

Is it far to the church ? ” asked one 
young man. 

Half a mile,” was the reply ; and so 
the party made use of shanks’ mare to 
help them on their way. 

One, a tall young woman with dark 
eyes and hair, walked with the man who 
had inquired. 

Of all the odd things, Harry, this is 
the oddest — to think of my chaperoning 
the girls, and then running into you and 
your friends on the train by mere chance. 
I wish John could have come — hadn’t 


THE WEDDING 


199 


you heard that I married John Bryce last 
December? Yes, indeed, Fm an old mar- 
ried woman now. And Helen hasn’t an 
idea that we’re anywhere near. She just 
wrote she was to be married quietly, and 
we made up our minds it couldn’t be done 
properly unless we were here, so we came 
up. I was married to Dr. Bryce out in 
Indiana, where he had charge of a hos- 
pital — I’m thankful to say he is back 
home again now, but I just couldn’t get 
along without him, so I had to go out 
there, and we were married ever so 
quietly. So you see, since I cheated the 
girls out of a wedding, they resolved 
Helen should not do the same thing, and 
as it wasn’t very hard to persuade me to 
come, here we are.” 

Mr. Harry Cortelyou said he and his 
friends had come from New York unex- 
pectedly, too, to help the doctor get prop- 
erly married. 

^^And another reason I was anxious 
to come,” said Mrs. Bryce, is that we be- 
came much interested in a little colored 
girl who wandered away from home and 


200 JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


turned up in our hospital ; she was a wild 
little thing and told many queer stories. 
We finally returned her to this very towm 
to the people she had strayed away from 
— Drury was the name — and I just hap- 
pened to hear that Helen’s cousin’s name 
is Drury, and think perhaps it is the very 
same family.” 

What flustered ushers those were 
when they saw such handsomely dressed 
and well-bred strangers come in ! Who 
could they he and where had they come 
from ? They certainly had never been in 
Cicero before. They were no sooner 
seated than the wedding march began 
and the procession started, led by the 
four young ushers, looking spick and 
span, with white roses in their button- 
holes — and ‘‘ good enough to eat,” as one 
old lady whispered to her neighbor. 
They were followed by Sally and Katrine, 
both carrying bunches of roses, then Miss 
Madge, and next Polly and — alack and 
alas — Jemima Jane ! 

Just as she was about to start Polly 
discovered that she had a basket of roses 


THE WEDDING 


201 


and not her beloved Jemima. She looked 
around wildly, her lips trembled, two tears 
sprang into her eyes, and she opened her 
mouth to scream, when she saw Jemima 
Jane behind the nearest 
pillar. So she just swal- 
lowed the shriek that 
was about to come out of 
her little rosebud mouth, 
caught the tears back 
into her blue eyes, and 
exchanged the flowers for 
Jemima, without any one 
noticing her. Then she 
walked demurely along, 
hugging her dear old dolly, and crooning 
a contented lullaby to the tune of the 
wedding march. Too late. Mammy and 
Topsy caught sight of her ; the bride had 
started on the arm of Mr. Manning’s 
brother, who was to give her away. 

Yo’ liT no ’count nigger! ” Mammy 
whispered excitedly to Topsy. ^^W’y 
didn’ y o’ watch de baby ? Yo’ Mammy’s 
turnin’ plum white wid modiflication ! ” 



14 


CHAPTEK XIX 


A CONFESSION 

T he service was over in a few minutes 
— Charlie said afterward he was 
sure it was two hours, for he was 
so tired of standing by the groom, and 
he didn’t dare even to move an eye- 
winker. Then, after the benediction, the 
procession moved slowly down the aisle, 
the bride and groom looking very happy, 
the ushers and bridesmaids very impor- 
tant, Charlie a little relieved, and Polly 
quite tired of the proceedings, and drag- 
ging Jemima Jane by one leg. She smiled 
at all the friends she knew in the congre- 
gation as she marched along. 

^^What do you suppose the people 
thought ? ” cried Katrine to Miss Madge 
and Sally, as they drove to the house. 
^^It was just too bad; and I don’t see 
how under the sun she ever got Jemima 
202 


A CONFESSION 


203 


again after I hid her and gave her the 
roses. There were a lot of strangers there 
too — they looked like city people — who 
do you suppose they were ? 

They may have been driving through 
town/^ said Miss Madge. However, if 
they belong to us, we will see them at 
the reception.^^ 

And sure enough they did. Topsy^s 
eyes grew as big as saucers when she 
opened the door and beheld Mrs. Bryce. 

Do you remember me, Topsy ? ” she 
asked, holding out her daintily gloved 
hand. 

“ Does I ^member yo^ ? asked Topsy ; 
^‘1 ain’ neber forgotten yo^, Mis^ Nan- 
gey^ and without waiting to even show 
them indoors, Topsy turned and ran for 
Katrine. Unfortunately she ran plump 
into Mammy, who promised her a rea- 
soning with^^ for her rude behavior to 
the guests. But she would not be stopped, 
and ran on for Katrine, telling her in an 
excited whisper that “ Mis’ Nangel she’s 
outside, an’ she done come all de way 
from Indiany what I done tole yo’ ’bout. 


204 JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


Mis’ Trine. Hurry up, or she gwine 
spread her wings an’ fly, ’ca’se she must 
er come dat a-way.” 

When Katrine reached the door, she 
found Cousin Helen warmly welcoming 
the new guests; and w^hat a surprise it 
was to see all these old friends who had 
come so far to see her married, and how 
happy she was that the doctor’s college 
friends were equally thoughtful ! 

You may be sure that the reception 
was a huge success, for every soul wdio 
was invited came and enjoyed it immense- 
ly ; even Miss Prim, from next door, who, 
as Jack said, was kind enough to leave 
a few of her feet ” at home. The ca- 
terer was a little worried about the pro- 
visions holding out, but fortunately there 
was just enough to go around without 
stinting even Topsy and Mammy Rose. 
Topsy, superintended by Mammy, was 
the most competent little waitress. The 
two houses accommodated all the guests, 
who were received by Spinner and the 
doctor in the newly furnished parlor of 
the doctor’s house. Spinner was very 


A CONFESSION 


205 


much delighted with the changes made, 
and praised Jack and Katrine unspar- 

iugiy- 

Katrine is a wonderful worker, she 
told Mrs. Bryce, ^^and the most compe- 
tent girl for her age I ever saw. She can 
do the most beautiful cooking and sew- 
ing — it quite puts mine to shame — and 
she can turn her hand to anything, in 
fact.^^ Then she told Mrs. Bryce about 
^^Jack and Company,^’ and their brave 
work, which interested the Southerner 
very much. 

I only wish my small sister, Phyllis, 
could do one-half the things you can,’^ 
said Mrs. Bryce to the blushing Katrine. 

We must arrange to have you meet, so 
that you can set her a good example. 
She is just about your size, but she thinks 
more of having a good time than of any- 
thing else.’^ 

^^It is just fun with us,’^ said Katrine 
modestly, and she would think so too, 
if she tried it.^^ 

‘Wery much depends on the way one 
looks at it,’^ smiled Cousin Helen. ^^If 


206 JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


we are prepared for drudgery we can 
easily make drudges of ourselves; but 
if we are prepared to see enjoyment in 
everything we do, we can get a great 
deal of pleasure out of our lives. We 
will ask Phyllis up to help us some time 
soon. Now that I have this big house 
we shall have plenty of room to spill over 
from the ^ Nest ^ into the ^ Web.^ 

And Phyllis will be glad to see Top- 
sy, too ; I wrote her all about the little 
girl in the hospital; and I must write, 
too, about the reward Ben earned by 
finding her.’^ 

And about his giving the money 
away as a college fund for me, too,’’ add- 
ed Jack, anxious to give Ben his dues. 
Poor Ben ! 

Every one seemed happy ; the doctor 
apparently more so than any one. He 
told Katrine the only thing that spoiled 
his pleasure was that if he were really as 
black as Katrine painted him, he was 
very sorry for Spinner. 

And now,” he cried, offering his arm 
to Cousin Helen, after most of the guests 


A CONFESSION 


207 


were gone (all except the Southern ladies 
and the doctor’s chums, who were per- 
suaded to stay overnight and be housed 
by some of the kind neighbors), allow 
me, Mrs. McKinney, to escort you upon 
your wedding tour. The wedding party 
is respectfully invited to accompany. You 
see, Harry, Mrs. McKinney and I took our 
real wedding trip at the time she asked 

me to marry her ” 

^^You wretch!” exclaimed Spinner, 
laughing. I never did. In fact, I tried 
my best to make you stay at home, but 
you were stubborn.” 

“ — and so,” the doctor continued, 
^^the only journey we’re going on to-night 
is through this old house of ours to see 
how Jack and Company, especially Jill 
here ” — pulling one of Katrine’s pigtails — 
^^have rejuvenated it.” 

So off the whole crowd started. Middy, 
looking quite white and tired, leaning 
on Jack’s arm. The solemn old house, 
which Hester had kept darkened for so 
many years, was certainly rejuvenated, as 
the doctor had said, and all was bright 


208 JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


and beautiful. The walls had been fresh- 
ly papered and painted, hardwood floors 
laid in several rooms, the beautiful old 
furniture which had belonged to Dr. Mc- 
Kinney’s grandmother was polished up, 
and an air of brightness and harmony 
given everything by the taste displayed 
in the arrangement of the new furnishings 
with the old. 

Every piece of wall-paper — every 
curtain — everything new, in fact, was se- 
lected through the good taste of Miss 
Katrine here,” said the doctor, and I 
want to say that I will give her a very 
handsome recommendation if ” 

A startled exclamation from Jack in- 
terrupted his sentence. Middy had quietly 
fainted away. 

A sad and weary time followed. Dear 
Middy had not known one of her children 
for a week. She had lain in a sort of 
stupor ever since the wedding-night, when 
Jack and the doctor had lifted her ten- 
derly, and had laid her on the bed in 
Cousin Helen’s pretty new room. Doctor 


A CONFESSION 


209 


McKinney had called in several promi- 
nent physicians to consult over the case, 
and each one had looked very grave and 
had shaken his head. 

Spinner had donned a nurse’s costume 
once more, and an experienced trained 
nurse had been telegraphed for to come 
to her relief. 

The crisis must occur before to-mor- 
row at this time,” Jack overheard the 
doctor say to Spinner, and it is impos- 
sible to tell what the 
result will be — but — 
the children may need 
you more than ever.” 

That evening after 
supper, when the nurse 
had gone back to the 
sick-room. Spinner 
came over to the other 
house and called the 
children into the sit- 
ting-room. 

Katrine had just undressed Polly and 
put her in her little trundle-bed, and was 
helping the sleepy Charlie undo the but- 



210 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


tons that troubled him so much. She 
finished with him, and then tucking him 
in, and bestowing a good -night kiss, 
closed the door and ran down to Cousin 
Helen. Jack, with his books on the table 
before him, was pretending to study, and 
Ben — poor unhappy Ben ! — was trying to 
write in his diary. They could think of 
nothing but Middy — dear Middy, who 
was the center of the little home and 
who was so very, very ill. 

Cousin Helen sat in Middy’s big chair, 
with Katrine and Ben each on a stool at 
her feet, all eager to hear the verdict of 
the two physicians. 

^^My dear, dear little cousins,’^ she 
said, her sweet sad smile but a shadow 
of her usual joyous laugh, ^‘poor Middy 
is still unconscious, and the two great 
doctors, who have been here all the after- 
noon, are as uncertain about what turn 
matters will take, as is our own dear doc- 
tor. They say the crisis will be within 
twenty-four hours, and that there is only 
a chance that our dear Middy will ever 
regain consciousness, and be able to speak 


A CONFESSION 


211 


with us again/^ Cousin Helen’s brim- 
ming eyes rested lovingly on the three 
heads, Jack’s buried in his hands on the 
table and Katrine’s in her lap. Ben was 
sitting bolt upright, trying to hold back 
the tears that would come. The contin- 
ual remembrance of the terrible secret 
he had hidden from his mother and from 
every one had made him extremely un- 
happy, and now — now the dear Middy 
was so ill and perhaps — perhaps he would 
never have a chance to teU her how 
wicked he had been. With a great sob 
he, too, buried his face in Cousin Helen’s 
lap. 

^^Oh, Spinner, Spinner, I’ve been so 
wicked ! — and Middy never knew. What 
shall I do?” 

Benny dear, we have none of us al- 
ways done right,” said Spinner, stroking 
the frowzy head which was shaking with 
sobs, and dear Middy would be the first 
one to comfort and forgive.” 

“ But — I — I am dishonest ! ” sobbed 
Ben, ^^and — and ” 

Dishonest ? ” asked Cousin Helen 


212 JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


gently. Tell me what you mean, 
Benny.^^ 

^‘ 1 — I can’t/' sobbed Ben. ^^You — 
and Jack — and Katrine will — will hate 
me.” 

Why, Benny ! ” said Katrine, raising 
a tearful face and putting her arm around 
him. ^^We couldn’t help loving you, 
never mind what you did.” 

I st — stole five hundred — dollars ! ” 
gasped Ben, “and — and I’ve got to tell 
now even if you never speak to me again, 
and — and Jack — oh. Jack — you — you 
can’t go to — to college ’cause the money’s 
gone.” And with many sobs Ben told his 
story. 

“And I’ve been so miserable — and I 
couldn’t tell — and spoil your wedding. 
Spinner, and — and since Middy has been 
sick it seems as if it would kill me — ^to 
let Jack know without her.” 

Jack had left the table and was down 
on his knees beside Benny. 

“ Poor old Ben ! ” he whispered. “ You 
have had a hard time, and you are a brave 
old fellow to stand it so long alone. It 


A CONFESSION 


213 


was noble of you to want me to go to 
college with your money, and it was your 
money, you know, so you couldn’t steal 
it. I’m so sorry you have lost it, but per- 
haps it will turn up yet. Don’t worry, 
old man, we can make it up somehow ; 
and — and Ben, I don’t love you one bit 
less, but more for being so brave about it. 
We will not tell Middy about it till — till 
she gets entirely well.” 

Jack gave a great gulp to down that 
queer choking sensation in his throat. 

Ben’s sobs became quieter, and one 
hand stole out to clasp Jack’s ready hand. 
He had not dreamed that the big brother 
would forgive him so readily, for he real- 
ized the dreadful disappointment it was 
for Jack to again give up going to col- 
lege. 

^^And the colored man has not yet 
been found ? ” asked Cousin Helen. 

No,” said Ben. He must have it, 
because I’ve searched and searched every- 
where for it — all along the road, over and 
over, and in my bureau, where the wallet 
was for a little while. Mr. Dean says if 


214 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


we can only get the man, we can proba- 
bly frighten him into telling about it. I 
wish we could get the scoundrel ! 

Ben’s confession relieved the strain 
under which he had been for so long, 
but it was almost forgotten in the thought 
of Middy and the morrow. The two boys 
went up to bed later with arms entwined, 
and left Cousin Helen and Katrine to 
talk about Middy, until Spinner said they 
would need all their strength for to-mor- 
row, and insisted that Katrine should go 
to bed and to sleep. 


CHAPTER XX 


A RECOVERY AND A DISCOVERY 

A long and dreary day followed. 
The children spoke in whispers, and 
moved softly on tiptoe, too sad and 
worried to go about their usual work. 
Charlie and Polly played in a listless way 
for a while, but even little Polly felt that 
a great crisis was at hand, and finally 
nestled down in Katrine’s lap in Middy’s 
chair, her big eyes full of unshed tears, 
and murmuring, Powy’s poor sick Mid- 
dy ; Powy ’oves ’oo.” 

Every few minutes one of them would 
steal softly into the other house, and listen 
in breathless silence for sounds from up- 
stairs ; and once in a while Spinner, pale 
and sad, would come in to cheer their 
waiting, and report that the crisis had 
not yet come. 

The two great doctors were up-stairs 

215 


216 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


with Dr. McKinney, waiting for the 
dreaded moment which would tell them 
whether Mrs. Drury might he nursed 
back to health and strength once more, 
or whether Jack and Company would be 
deprived of the loving mother, counselor, 
and friend. 

Spinner and the nurse were there too, 
except when Spinner stole softly down 
to tell the children there was hope yet. 
Once she almost fell over a little black 
bundle huddled in a corner of the stair- 
case. It was Topsy, crying her eyes out 
for love of the gentle mistress up-stairs — 
her Queen. Cousin Helen led her ten- 
derly down to the sitting-room, and com- 
forted her with the others. And Mammy 
was there too ; she had come early in 
the morning to be with her ^‘bressed 
lambs.’^ 

“ De good Lord, he ain’ gwine tek 
Mis’ Lucy away f’om we all,” she stoutly 
declared. Ef dere’s any one ter go, hit’s 
time fer Mammy Rose ter go first. Stop 
yo’ snifflin’, Topsy Pink, an’ tek Polly 
out in de kitchin an’ ’muse her. Run 


A KECOVERY AND A DISCOVERY 217 


back iip-stairs ag’in, Mis’ Helen, honey. 
Mammy ’ll set right down here wid de 
chillen an’ tell ’em ’bout ole Virginny 
times w’en Mis’ Lucy was a li’l’ gal, an’ 
den de time ’ll pass quicker, an’ — an’ 
we ’ll wait fo’ yo’ to tell us what de doc- 
tors says.” 

So Cousin Helen went back to the 
sick-room again, and Mammy told about 
the dear old Southern home, how ^^ole 
Mistis an’ Marse dey w uz mighty proud 
one fine day w’en de good Lord done mek 
dey a presen’ ob a weenty baby, an’ de 
baby hit war Mis’ Lucy — jes’ natcherly so 
much like Polly dat yo’ couldn’t tole de 
diffruns — ’cept Polly she more robuster. 
An’ dey tuk de bestest keer ob dat baby 
till she done got ter be fifteen, an’ she wuz 
jes’ de sweetes’ an’ bes’ li’l’ gal alius, an’ 
all de niggers done worship eben her 
shoes. An’ den one day come along a 
smart-lookin’ Yankee to see ole Marse, 
an’ I reck’n he done fall plum’ in lub wid 
Mis’ Lucy from de fust, fo’ he war a-comin’ 
an’ a-comin’ to de house all de time, an’ he 
play an’ romp wid Mis’ Lucy at fust, an’ 

15 


218 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 

den he tease her, an’ tell her ef she put 
on long skirts she cyarn’ run no mo’ ; an’ 
den, arter waitin’ years fo’ Mis’ Lucy to 
mek up her mine she doan’ wan’ ter marry 
none o’ de young marses f ’om de Souf, she 
up an’ come to ole black Mammy one day, 
an’ she say: ^ Mammy, ef yo’ lubbed a 
man, a No’thener, would yo’ marry him ?’ 
^ Bress yo’ pretty eyes, honey,’ says Mam- 
my, ^ dey ain’ no No’th nor no Souf, an’ 
ef yo’ lubs him ’s much as yo’ does yo’ 
own pa an’ ma, tek him an’ be happy.’ 
An’ so yo’ pa he come along jes’ den, 
an’ he oberhear what Mammy say, an’ 
he mek her repeat it, wid po’ Mis’ Lucy 
standin’ dere lookin’ like de sunset, an’ 
den he say, ^ Will yo’ tek him. Mis’ Lucy ? ’ 
an’ Mis’ Lucy she so flustrated she cyarn’ 
do nuthin’ but hide her face in he coat. 
An’ ” 

Mammy stopped suddenly, for there 
stood the nurse in the doorway. 

Mrs. Drury is conscious at last,” she 
said, and she is asking for the children. 
The doctors say you may all come up for 
a moment. You must be very careful. 


A RECOVERY AND A DISCOVERY 219 


for the least excitement may turn the 
tide which is now in her favor/^ 

Jack with Ben, and Katrine with 
Charlie, went up the stairs and into the 
room as quietly as little mice, and there 
was dear Middy, pale and wan, her eyes 
eagerly watching the door for them. She 
was strong enough only to smile feebly 
as they stood quietly inside the door, and 
then she contentedly closed her eyes and 
dozed off into a gentle sleep. 

The crisis was past, and Jack and 
Company still had a loving mother. 

The long weeks of convalescence were 
weeks of joy to the children, now per- 
mitted to wait upon their mother, who, 
though always very dear, had never 
seemed quite so precious before. They 
went about their work with light hearts 
and nimble fingers. Ben hid his grief 
that his mother did not know about the 
loss of the money, and Jack hid his. 

The supposed fhief had not been ar- 
rested, and no amount of search revealed 
the missing money. Perhaps Sally and 


220 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


Paul showed even more disappointment 
than the Drur js ; but they were very kind, 
indeed, to poor Ben, and sympathized 
with him instead of blaming him. Every 
one became interested in the case, and 
every one was kind enough to help in 
searching until the search was given up 
for lack of some new place to look for 
the money or the man. Both seemed 
to have disappeared entirely from the 
country. 

Winter had gone, and spring had be- 
gun to coax forth the tender little leaves 
and blades of grass, before Middy knew 
of the loss. She was still weak, and spent 
most of the time in a wheel-chair which 
Mrs. Winters had kindly lent. Cousin 
Helen and Katrine were sewing busily. 

^^Ben is growing more manly every 
day,^^ said Middy. ''He is not the care- 
less, thoughtless boy he was last year, and 
I think his work has been good for him. 
His generosity with his money pleased me 
so much ; it is a never-fading bit of joy to 
think that Jack can really go to college, 
and I am sure he will make the very best 





Then Cousin Helen told the story 


A KECOVERY AND A DISCOVERY 221 


use of his opportunities/^ Spinner and 
Katrine looked at each other, and Middy 
saw the glance they exchanged. What 
is the matter ? ’’ she asked quickly. 

Then Cousin Helen told the story from 
the very beginning, and just as she fin- 
ished the three boys came in for luncheon 
— the four boys, Katrine would have said, 
because the doctor came with them. 

My dear little son ! was all Middy 
said, as she drew Ben’s curly head to her 
shoulder and kissed him. To think that 
you did not have your mother to help 
you bear your burden ! ” 

Ben buried his face and sobbed for a 
few minutes, while Middy said comforting 
words, and the doctor shook his head. 
He did not approve of anything but 
smiles, especially where invalids were 
concerned. 

Why, I declare ! I almost forgot that 
the mail had come in and brought you 
some letters,” he said, to change the sub- 
ject. Here’s one for Middy — and, w^o 
is it dares write to you. Miss Katrine, 
without first asking permission ? And 


222 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


it is postmarked Richmond, too. I be- 
lieve I would better open it and read it 
first.^’ 

Never cried Katrine, dashing for 
him and rescuing her letter, addressed in 
a strange hand, and, sure 
enough, postmarked Rich- 
mond. 

What do you think ! 
she and Middy, who had 
both opened their letters, 
cried at once. ^^It’s an in- 
vitation to 

^^One at once,’^ ordered 
the doctor, holding up both 
hands in protest. Whose 
wedding is it this time ? Mrs. Middy has 
the floor.’^ 

Mine is an invitation to go abroad 
with Amy Yan Wagonen, a distant cousin,^^ 
said Middy, bright spots of excitement ap- 
pearing in her cheeks. ^^Did you ever 
hear of such kindness, Helen ? 

^^And mine,’^ Katrine fairly shouted, 
not giving her mother time to explain 
further, ‘‘ia an invitation to visit Mrs. 



A KECOVERY AND A DISCOVERY 223 


Bryce and her sister, Phyllis Blair. Oh, 
how I wish I might go ! 

“ Well, I declare ! exclaimed the doc- 
tor. • You and I are left out of this. Spin- 
ner — it really isn’t fair. Katrine can’t go, 
of course,” he went on teasingly. 

Oh, I just wish I could ! ” cried Ka- 
trine ; and then she sighed, for she knew 
her duty was laid out for her at home. 

Tell us about Mrs. Van Wagonen’s letter. 
Middy, dear.” 

Would a sea voyage be good for 
her, doctor?” asked Jack eagerly. 

The very best thing in the world,” 
he replied. ^^Just what I should have 
prescribed if I had knowm there was the 
slightest chance of my advice being 
taken.” 

I don’t see how I can possibly go,” 
said Middy slowly. “Why, it’s only — 
Let me see, what does she say ? ‘We are 
to sail on the Fuerst Bismarck three 
weeks from this Saturday, and as George ’ 
— that is Dr. Van Wagonen — ‘is to be 
very busy on this trip and most of the 
time we’re away, he makes it a condition 


224 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


of my going that I take a friend with me 
to keep me from being lonesome. And I 
have selected you as my companion. 
The trip will do you good, and as we are 
going by easy stages, and George is very 
careful about traveling, you will be safe, 
and your family need not worry one bit. 
Do write me that you will go.’ — She 
doesn’t seem to have heard of my last 
illness at all.” 

I’ll write her at once that you’ll be 
ready,” cried Spinner. 

No — no, I can not go and leave my 
little flock,” said Middy, opening her 
arms lovingly to let them draw closer to 
her. Where I go they must go too.” 

But they can’t go abroad,” said the 
doctor seriously, ^^and this invitation is 
just in the nick of time for you. Such a 
change may result in your being with 
them for many more years than would 
otherwise be possible. A change is im- 
perative for you — I told Helen so only 
this morning. And as for the children, 
you know we stand ready to be mother 
and father to them as far as is possible. 


A RECOVEKY AND A DISCOVERY 226 


I know Dr. Van Wagonen by reputation, 
and he will take the very best care of 
you.^^ 

After a great deal of talking, plan- 
ning, and persuading, the letter accepting 
Mrs. Van Wagonen’s invitation was writ- 
ten and mailed, and then the other invi- 
tation was to be considered. 

Mrs. Bryce wrote a very urgent let- 
ter, saying that her sister Phyllis had not 
been very well, and that she had been 
taken from school, and had a tutor at 
home. Ever since Mrs. Bryce’s visit to 
Cicero she had been begging to have 
Katrine visit her ; she had fallen in love 
with the description given her of the 
Drury family. And so Katrine was urged 
to come and stay as long as she possi- 
bly could.” A pass on the railroad for 
the whole journey was enclosed. 

‘‘1 don’t see why she can not go,” 
said Spinner. should love to take 

care of Polly and help the boys, and I 
think we can get along famously. — Don’t 
you, boys ? ” 

You bet! ” cried Charlie vigorously; 


226 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


and then : Please excuse me, Middy. I 
forgot you didnT like that ; I won’t say 
it again.” 

Indeed we can ! ” cried Ben and 
Jack, and Polly also acquiesced with a 
^^’deed we tan,” which made them all 
laugh. She was sitting on the floor with 
beloved Jemima Jane, alternately rocking 
and kissing her, and trying to pull the 
rags from a large rip in her body. 

May I go. Middy ? Isn’t Cousin 
Helen just too dear for words?” And 
Katrine jumped up and down in her ex- 
citement, and kissed first Middy and then 
Spinner, and then Middy again. 

Perhaps it can be arranged,” as- 
sented Middy, while Spinner said, ^^Of 
course.” 

Just then Topsy’s head popped in at 
the door. 

Bofe lunches am ready,” she an- 
nounced, ^^an’ Hester says ef yo’ all’s 
ain’t gwine come mighty quick she done 
unsot de table ag’in.” And she disappeared 
before she could be reproved for repeat- 
ing Hester’s message word for word. 


A KECOVEEY AND A DISCOVERY 227 


So the cavalcade started, leaving Mid- 
dy alone, with the exception of Jemima 
Jane. Ben stopped at his mother’s bid- 
ding to hand a needle and thread to sew 
up poor Jemima’s rib before Polly should 
pull any more stuffing out. 

Geewhimakins ! ” exclaimed Ben as, 
after handing the needle, he examined 
Jemima’s long wound. Gee-whim-a-kins, 
Middy ! Look here ! ” and he burst out 
laughing and crying at the same time. 

Sticking from the hole was the end 
of a one-hundred-dollar bill, and further 
search revealed four other crisp bills, 
rolled and crumpled and stuffed into poor 
— or rich — Jemima Jane ! 


CHAPTER XXI 


SOME DETECTIVE WORK AND — GOOD-BY 

T he hubbub that followed the discov- 
ery of Jemima Jane’s theft was almost 
deafening. Ben was nearly beside 
himself with joy, and if his mother had 
not been well on the highroad to recov- 
ery, the bearlike hugs and shouts of pleas- 
ure would certainly have been the worst 
thing in the world for her. She was 
speechless with amazement, and before 
she could even get her breath to exclaim, 
the family came racing back to see what 
was the matter. Jack and the doctor 
had each grabbed a rug as he ran, think- 
ing of fire, and Spinner and Katrine, im- 
mediately thinking of burglars, had an 
umbrella and the fire-tongs. Hester fol- 
lowed Cousin Helen with the water-pitcher 
in readiness for either, and Topsy, smell- 
ing some excitement as every one pre- 
228 


SOME DETECTIVE WORK 229 


cipitately rushed away from instead of 
toward the dining-room, left her toasting 
and dashed for the sitting-room next door, 
the toaster still smoking hot in one hand 
and a big wooden spoon in the other. 

Where is it ? shouted the doctor. 

Where is he?” called Katrine and 
Charlie. 

What is it ? ” screamed Jack. 

What is the matter ? ” gasped Spin- 
ner. Is it ” 

‘‘ Ketch him — ketch him — ketch him ! ” 
sang Topsy, excitedly hopping up and 
down, her little black pigtails bobbing 
like so many blades of grass in the 
wind. 

Ben caught Jack around the waist 
and whirled him about the room. 

^^You can go — you can at last!” he 
shouted. It's found — found — found I ” 

Here, young man, quiet down a bit, 
and tell us what's the matter,” said the 
doctor gruffly, grabbing Ben by the col- 
lar. ‘‘1 should think your reason was 
lost instead of found.” 

Behold the cause of Ben's apparent 


230 JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


craziness ! cried Mrs. Drury, as she ex- 
hibited the long-lost money. 

And then there was a regular dance 
of joy by the whole family, with an ac- 
companiment of Indian-like war-whoops. 

Where under the clouds did they 
come from?’^ asked Katrine, as they all 
gathered about Middy^s chair to hear the 
mystery explained. 

Behold the thief! said Middy sol- 
emnly, holding Jemima Jane up in front 
of her. 

A shout of laugh- 
I ter greeted this and 
Middy’s explanation, 

r until Polly, seeing 
that her beloved Je- 
mima Jane was being 
laughed at, poked 
both chubby fists into 
her eyes and burst 
into tears. 

Here is dolly, 
sweet. Middy would not take her dolly 
away, darling. See what Jemima Jane 
has given Middy.” 



SOME DETECTIVE WORK 231 


Polly took her hands out other eyes 
long enough to see that Jemima was safe, 
and then catching sight of the money, she 
stopped crying, and picking up one bill 
from Middy’s lap she snatched Jemima 
and hurriedly crumpled the bill and poked 
it into her body. 

Did you ever ! ” exclaimed Spinner. 

How could they have gotten in there — 
how could Polly have found them ? Polly, 
dear, where did you find all these pretty 
green things?” But Polly disdained an 
answer. Where could she have found 
them, Ben ? ” 

Goodness only knows ! ” cried Ben 
perplexedly. And then : I wonder — I 
wonder if she could have found them that 
night ? I think — ^yes, I’m quite sure — now 
it all comes back to me — I left the wallet 
in my pocket when I went to bed, and 
she almost always comes in the room to 
wake us, you know.” 

Let’s try a piece of detective work,” 
suggested Jack. Give me your wallet, 
Benny.” Jack put the bills carefully in 
the wallet and pulled the loose elastic 


232 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


about it. Now watcli.’^ He put the 
wallet on the chair in front of Polly, and 
every one waited in breathless silence to 
see the next move. 

Polly was contentedly walking off 
with Jemima Jane when she caught sight 
of the wallet, and she seemed to recog- 
nize it as an old friend. Putting Jemima 
down, she seized the wallet, and with a 
little cry of delight sat down on the floor 
and pulled the rubber this way and that 
till the wallet fell open. Then she pulled 
the bills out, felt of them, and, looking 
about for some convenient place to put 
them, she discovered Jemima Jane ; and, 
to the wonder of them all, she calmly 
stuffed the bills one after another into 
Jemima’s capacious side, unconscious that 
every one was watching her. 

Jack pulled Katrine back, whispering 
“Wait,” as she started to catch Polly, 
who now had risen from the floor again 
and was playing with the wallet on the 
chair. By some chance, or perhaps her 
baby skill, the rubber slipped back in 
place, and the wallet looked undisturbed. 


SOME DETECTIVE WORK 233 


There ! cried the detective. What 
do you think of that ? 

‘^1 should call that conclusive proof 
that we have an accomplished thief right 
in our midst/^ said the doctor solemnly. 

Here, miss, let me take that money at 
once or you’ll hide it again, and then 
Jack will have another disappointment 
about college. I vote myself a commit- 
tee of one to take charge of this money. 
Who seconds the motion ? ” 

I ! ” cried every one else, as the doc- 
tor pocketed the money and led the way 
down to luncheon. 

Three weeks later Spinner and the 
doctor, Polly and the boys, gathered at 
the station to bid farewell to the travel- 
ers. It was very hard, now that the time 
had really come, to let Middy go for so 
long a time, but they all bravely faced 
the parting and tried to be cheerful. 

There had been three weeks of the 
hurriedest kind of scurry to get Middy 
and Katrine ready, for Katrine was to go 
part of the way with Middy; then she 
16 


234 JACKS OF ALL TRADES 


would be met by one of Mrs. Bryce’s 
friends and change cars for Richmond, 
while Mr. Kendrick Munn would see 
Middy safe on the steamer. New clothes 
had to be fashioned out of old ones, in 
the marvelous way some clever people 
are masters of, and when everything was 
ready no one would have known they 
were not spick and span from the shops. 

The boys had resolved to carry on the 
business as far as possible, though Jack 
had a deal of studying to do in order to 
pass his college examinations, and Charlie 
and Ben were to continue at school. 
Topsy was to keep house under Cousin 
Helen’s supervision, and she had solemnly 
promised her Queen ” to be de bestest 
li’l’ nigger dat eber live, an’ take keer of 
Polly ’s ef she war a nangel — dough I 
spec’s my heart’ll clean bust widout Mis’ 
’Trine.” 

Just before the train puffed in, shouts 
came from two wagons driving hurriedly 
toward the station, and almost before 
they stopped, out jumped the March 
Hares pell-mell, to wish Katrine good 


SOME DETECTIVE WOKK 235 


luck and to present her with the badge 
of membership — a pin with a mad hare 
jumping out of a hat the Hatter must 
surely have worn, it looked so much like 
the one in the picture. 

Mammy Rose could not let her 
^^bressed lambs go without a God- 
speed from her, so she begged permis- 
sion to come too ; and there she was, with 
tears of joy or sorrow, you couldnT tell 
which, starting from her eyes. 



B.ST. 


Good-bys were hurriedly said as the 
train thundered in, and promises of good 


236 JACKS OF ALL TKADES 


behavior were made to dear Middy who 
was to be gone for so long. 

Hip-hip -hurrah ! three cheers for 
Jack and Company ! 
cried Paul, and the 
Hares cheered with a 
will. Three cheers and 
good luck for Jack’s sis- 
ter ! ” cried Paul again. 
And then, ^^And three 
times three cheers, and 
a fine trip, for Jack’s mother ! ” as the 
train pulled out, amid a terrific cheering 
and waving of hats and handkerchiefs. 



THE END 


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land ." — Boston Htrald. 

*' All that concerns the settlement at New Plymouth is told with fine skill and vivid- 
ness of description. ... A book that must be read from cover to cover with unfalter- 
ing interest ." — Boston Saturday Evening Gazette. 



$1.50. 

The story is fresh and modem, relieved by incidents and constant humor, and the 
lessons which are suggested are most beneficim. 


^OHN BOYD'S ADVENTURES. 

W. Knox, author of “ The Boy Travelers,” etc. 
page Illustrations. i2mo. Cloth, $1.50. 


By Thomas 
With 12 full- 


ALONG the FLORIDA REEF. By Charles 

F. Holder, joint author of ” Elements of Zoology.” With 
numerous Illustrations. l2mo. Cloth, $1.50. 


E 


IV\ 


NGLISHMAN'S HAVEN. By W. J. Gordon, 

author of ” The Captain-General, ” etc. With 8 full-page Ulus, 
trations. i2mo. Cloth, $1.50. 

’'E ALL. A Story of Outdoor Life and Adventure 

in Arkansas. By OcTAVE ThANET. With 12 full-page Ulus, 
trations by E. J. Austen and Others. i2mo. Cloth, $1.50. 



ING TOM AND THE RUNAWAYS. By 

Louis Pendleton. The experiences of two boys in the forests 
of Georgia. With 6 Illustrations by E. W. Kemble. l2mo, 
Cloth, $1.50. 


D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. 


A UNIQUE BOOK. 


For children^ parents, teachers, and all who are interested 
in the psychology of childhood." 

The Book of Knight and Barbara. 

By David Starr Jordan. Illustrated. i2mo. 
Cloth, 1 1.50. 

The curious and fascinating tales and pictures of this unique 
book are introduced by Dr. Jordan with the following preface : 
** The only apology the author can make in this case is that he 
never meant to do it. He had told his own children many 
stories of many kinds, some original, some imitative, some traves- 
ties of the work of real story-tellers. Two students of the de- 
partment of education in the Stanford University — Mrs. Louise 
Maitland, of San Jose, and Miss Harriet Hawley, of Boston — 
asked him to repeat these stories before other children. Miss 
Hawley, as a stenographer, took them down for future reference, 
and while the author was absent on the Bering Sea Commission 
of 1896 she wrote them out in full, thus forming the material 
of this book. Copies of the stories were placed by Mrs. Mait- 
land in the hands of hundreds of children. These drew illus- 
trative pictures, after their fashion ; and from the multitude 
offered, Mrs. Maitland chose those which are here reproduced. 
The scenes in the stories were also subjected to the criticisms 
of the children, and in many cases amended to meet their sug- 
gestions. These pictures made by the children have been found 
to interest deeply other children, a fact which gives them a 
definite value as original documents in the study of the workings 
of the child-mind. At the end of the volume are added a few 
true stories of birds and of beasts, told to a different audience. 
With these are a few drawings by university students, which are 
intended to assist the imagination of child- readers.” 


D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. 




SEP 12 1902 


1 


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SEP, 12 1902 

SEP- 1? 190? 



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